Ozzie Knezovich
A candidate for Sheriff, Spokane County in the 2010 Washington General Election
Party: Republican
Age: 62
City: Western Spokane County, Wash.
Occupation: Spokane County sheriff
OZZIE KNEZOVICH
Education: Graduated from Rock Springs High School in Wyoming. Graduated from Weber State College with an integrated studies bachelor’s degree in 1985.
Work experience: Became town marshal in Superior, Wyoming in 1990. Joined Rock Springs, Wyoming police force in 1991. Joined Olympia Police Department in 1995. Joined Spokane County Sheriff’s Office as deputy in 1996. Became sergeant in 2004. Appointed Spokane County sheriff by county commissioners in 2006 and won election to the post in November of that year. Re-elected while unopposed in 2010.
Political experience: Former president of the Spokane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association. Former president of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs. Named to the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Association in 2008. Served as president of that group in 2012.
Military: U.S. Army airborne medical specialist and combat medic, served in Korea, 1987-90.
Family: Married, three grown children.
Related Coverage
Knezovich’s ‘support’ falls in gray area
Knezovich’s ‘support’ falls in gray area
Sheriff’s ‘support’ falls in gray area
A testament to the popularity of Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich may be the level to which candidates for Spokane County prosecutor are seeking his support. The situation came to a head last week when incumbent Steve Tucker announced during a debate that he had the support of Knezovich. Asked to clarify that support, Tucker made it clear that the sheriff has not endorsed his candidacy.
Jailer fired after inmate lies dead for hours
Jailer fired after inmate lies dead for hours
Spokane County Jail deputy disputes termination
A Spokane County Jail corrections deputy is challenging his dismissal in March for alleged failure to discover an inmate’s death and then lying about it. The deputy, Kenneth Downey, is one of four who were implicated in the Nov. 11 incident, in which an inmate lay dead in his cell for eight hours before his death from natural causes was discovered.
Geiger’s mission changing
The Geiger Corrections Center will soon become an interim version of the treatment-focused “community corrections center” that is to be part of a jail-construction bond measure next April. Although Geiger will be available for overflow from the Spokane County Jail, its new mission will be to provide 144 beds for offenders who are nearing release. Jail officials already have started rearranging inmate populations to conform to Geiger’s revised role.
Geiger to focus on inmate treatment, training
The Geiger Corrections Center will soon become an interim version of the treatment-focused “community corrections center” that is to be part of a jail-construction bond measure next April.
Fired Spokane County deputy gets arbitration
An arbitrator is reviewing the case of a Spokane County corrections deputy fired after sheriff’s officials determined he used excessive force on an inmate. Wayne Green was fired last summer after an investigation into claims that he beat an inmate inside the Spokane County Jail booking area. Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Green “made a very rude comment” and provoked the situation.
Spokane County corrections deputy’s firing under review
An arbitrator is reviewing the case of a Spokane County corrections deputy fired after sheriff’s officials determined he used excessive force on an inmate.
Spokane County jail unions still weighing merger
Local unions for two groups of Spokane County corrections deputies will go ahead with county-requested merger discussions despite layoffs, a spokesman said Wednesday. Tuesday’s announcement that 57 of their members will be laid off June 16 threatened to derail a merger meeting scheduled tonight.
Spokane County lays off jail workers
Spokane County will lay off 57 jail employees next month to offset a big drop in the number of inmates. The employees were notified Tuesday evening, and formal layoff notices were to be distributed today.