2020 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE: Richard Whitehead

NAME: Richard Whitehead

RUNNING FOR: Kootenai County Sheriff

CITY OF RESIDENCE: Post Falls

DATE OF BIRTH: 1959

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Bachelor's Degree, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas (Criminal Justice & Public Administration)

Graduate, FBI National Academy, 197th Session (FBINA)

Graduate, Certified Public Manager (CPM) Program, Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas

Graduate, Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute – Leadership and Command College (GMI)

MILITARY EXPERIENCE:

U.S. Army (1977-1980) Military Police Traffic Accident Reconstructionist

EXPERIENCE IN ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICES:

Lieutenant/Captain Travis County Sheriff's Office, Austin, Texas (1997 - 2010), directing the activities of: Major Crimes Division: Homicide, White Collar Crimes, Intelligence, Hi-Tech, Family Violence, Child Abuse, Victim Services, Crime Lab, Property/Evidence, Narcotics, Auto Theft Task Force; Tactical Warrants Unit, Crime Suppression Team, and SWAT; Special Operations Division: Traffic Enforcement, Motors, DWI Task Force, Lake Patrol, K-9, Estray, Community Oriented Policing, and School Resource Officers; Emergency Communications: 911 Public Safety Answering Point, Dispatching.

Administrator/Chief Executive Officer, Columbia 911 Communications District, St. Helens, Ore. (Dec. 1, 2010 - Sept. 15, 2011) Executive level work in planning, organizing, budgeting, bargaining, directing and coordinating the operations of the countywide 9-1-1 public safety answering point and dispatch communications system including radio, mobile data backbone, and facilities, for all law enforcement, fire, emergency medical service and related providers based in Columbia County, Ore. Representing the District to the Advisory Committee, local and state government officials and related organizations and associations.

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

Travis County Sheriff's Office, Sergeant (1992 - 1997), Deputy (1986 - 1992)

Detective – White Collar Crimes

Deputy – Patrol

Police Officer, Baytown Police Department, Baytown, Texas (1980 - 1985)

Military Police Officer, United States Army, Honorable Discharge (1977 - 1980)

LICENSES, CERTIFICATES, AWARDS, & PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:

Commendation Bar for Outstanding Leadership, 2010

Nominated: Supervisor of the Year for 2009

Nominated: Trainer of the Year for 2009

State Regional Officer of the Year, 1998

Commendation Bar for Outstanding Leadership, 1998

Certified Public Manager (CPM)

Graduate Management Institute (GMI)

Certified 9-1-1 Center Manager

Master Peace Officer

Master Instructor

Crime Prevention Specialist

National Incident Management System (NIMS): Instructor

OTHER POSITIONS:

(2010 - 2011) Member, Oregon APCO/NENA Training and Legislative Committees

(2010 - 2011) Member, Oregon Wireless Interoperability Strategic Planning Committee

(2006 - 2007) Member, Texas Commission Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) Curriculum Committee

(2004 - 2008) Director of Security, Republic of Texas Motorcycle Rally (3rd largest in the nation)

(2004 - ) Adjunct Instructor, Leadership and Command College of Texas

(2000 - 2002) Board Member, Travis County Credit Union

(1998 - 2001) Region Director, Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas

(1997 - 1999) 3rd Vice President, Bill Blackwood Leadership and Command College Alumni

(1996 - 2001) Adjunct Instructor, Texas A&M University System TEEX

(1995 - ) Owner, Richard Whitehead & Associates L.L.C., a Training and Consulting firm

(1992 - 1998) President and Board Member, Travis County Sheriff's Officers Association

YEARS AS IDAHO RESIDENT: 2011 to present

FAMILY: Married. Three Adult Children and four grandchildren

HOBBIES:

Hunting, Golf, Swimming

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

This decision was not made overnight but carefully molded and worked toward for forty years.

I want to implement the strategic decisions that this county and its citizens face now and in the future. This will include involving communities in how the Sheriff's Office services are delivered and what affect they have on each individual.

I share the common Idahoan values of freedom, hard work and privacy and know that this is a pivotal time for our county. With the compounding growth and the challenges that brings; within my career I have obtained the skills, experience, and wisdom to address these challenges.

In essence; You are the reason I am running for Kootenai County Sheriff.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THREE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES YOU'LL FACE?

The first two issues, while KCSO related, have huge financial ramifications and implications on the citizens of Kootenai County.

Employee retention

KCSO has become a “training agency” for CdA PD and the Spokane region. With every deputy that leaves the county losses a minimum of $100k of investment, in 2018 alone that was over a million dollars. This high turn over leads to a less experienced work force which precipitously increases the liability of the county. It would take only one poor decision to cost the county tens of millions of dollars. I will turn this around and we will become the strong, confident and outstanding Office the citizens deserve and has a right to expect.

Agency Health

KCSO is severely understaffed, underpaid, and underappreciated. By modern police staffing standards, KCSO is woefully short of personnel. It is not uncommon for only four deputies to be covering the entire county at any one time.

One recent evening during a snowstorm a major collision call came in where the responding deputy traveled from Rathdrum to near Harrison. Not counting the risk and liability of having to travel that far and fast in hazardous conditions, that left only three deputies to handle the rest of the county. One call could easily reduce the available number to zero!

Detention Deputies are regularly working 16-hour shifts due to staff shortages. These are mandated hours away from their families, causing additional stress on their health and wellbeing and costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars in overtime.

The current administrative facility is forty-years old and woefully inadequate. Staff are working is spaces that were once closets and even in the hallways, record retention spaces are overflowing, and a shorthanded detective division has nowhere to put additional investigators, if they got them.

I have personally gone through the pressure of exponential growth and can bring success to this Office.

Rapid Community Growth

Kootenai County is one of, if not the, fastest growing county in the state. With a population growth rate of 3+%, most of that in retirement age, and a current population of over 160k, we are a destination that demands change soon! This growth causes a strain on housing, infrastructure, traffic, and crime. I will evaluate current resources and finances to present a short and long-range plan to lead us into the future.

IF ELECTED, WHAT STEPS WILL YOU TAKE TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES?

I am the candidate with a proven track record of success in solving all the above issues. It starts with building relationships with honest and regular communication. Relationships must be developed with the Board of County Commissioners as well as the communities so that we can work collectively to address county needs. Our function is to Serve and Protect the county and we will be able to meet that confidently.

WHAT SPECIFIC SKILLS OR EXPERIENCE QUALIFY YOU FOR THIS JOB?

With 40+ years of law enforcement experience (14-years in Command, 26 years in leadership, business, and training) I have the successful, time tested, track record and experience solving the same challenges facing the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office today. With a lifetime of public service, passion, and a logical approach to problem solving, makes me the Leader to serve Kootenai County.

I am recognized by the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) as a Subject Matter Expert in: Leadership, Forensic Investigations and Police Field Training. I am the only non-active Idaho Peace Officer that has ever been given such a designation.

WHY SHOULD VOTERS ELECT YOU, RATHER THAN AN OPPONENT?

The level and depth of my experience is unmatched by my opponents.

I offer an open invitation to anyone to meet in person, by phone, or email to answer your questions and address any areas of concern.

Visit: SheriffRick.com