Dan Wilson: The Change That Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Needs

Oct 25, 2024 | Media, Press Release

“I won’t surrender or dilute my ideas and policies due to the influence of supporters, the wealthy, or
prominent individuals. I have no secret alliances. I’m not beholden to big money, political organizations, or prominent people. That alone makes me vastly different from my opponent.”

DAN WILSON: THE CHANGE THAT KOOTENAI COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE NEEDS

Dan Wilson, running as an independent candidate for Kootenai County Sheriff, is new to the political landscape. He’s never had political aspirations prior to seeking the office of sheriff in Kootenai County. He has stirred things up in local politics as he speaks his mind, saying what he believes needs to be said, “I won’t surrender or dilute my ideas and policies due to the influence of supporters, the wealthy, or prominent individuals. I have no secret alliances. I’m not beholden to big money, political organizations, or prominent people. That alone makes me vastly different from my opponent.” Dan believes that a nonpartisan sheriff is the best representation for the sheriff’s office and for the people of Kootenai County.

The Wilson campaign is arguably the most substantive that Kootenai County has ever seen. With a robust website that has a built-in search engine and weekly live stream broadcasts, they have an unprecedented ability to rapidly connect with the community and inform voters.

BORN AND RAISED IN THIS REGION

As a fourth generation Spokane Valley resident having lived on the historic Antoine Plante homestead, Dan has shared close ties with Kootenai County his entire life. “Growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, residents across the border shared many of the same values. We all traveled back and forth for both work and entertainment” says Wilson, “I started my carpentry apprenticeship in Kootenai County and hunted in both state’s shared mountain ranges.”

Dan realized his lifelong dream of moving to Idaho in 2020 where he and his family now live. He says, “I’ve always loved north Idaho and had a sense of community through values and shared experiences. It was merely a formality to officially become a resident. I love Kootenai County and am proud of our
community’s ideals, strength, and independent spirit.” Dan’s deep roots in this region have given him a strong sense of duty and dedication to preparing and protecting the people of this county.

A QUALIFIED LEADER AND TRUE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE

Dan Wilson has proven his dedication to this community through his 12 years of service as a special commissioned reserve police officer while simultaneously running two highly successful commercial construction companies for 25 years which are still in business today. As a reserve officer in both Spokane and Liberty Lake, Washington, Wilson completed all the same steps as any full-time law enforcement officer including completion of Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) Washington State’s equivalent to Idaho (POST). Wilson served his community as a single car status police officer for thousands of hours over the course of 12 years. He is multi-disciplined, successful in business, loves law and order, and is a brilliant communicator.

Dan’s firmly held belief is that the sheriff is first and foremost a representative of the people, not a career government employee or experienced politician. As a successful business owner with 25 years of leading people, he manages and completes large projects, writes and negotiates contracts, and develops complex budgets from the ground up. He is accomplished in robust administrative functions where his own dollars are on the line. Wilson’s proven success in both public service as a police officer and in the private sector as a business owner, is exactly the skillset that the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office needs for the improvement of morale, recruitment, and retention.

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEMS AT KCSO

“I am ready to hit the ground running.” says Wilson, “The goals are to provide all citizens with nonpolitical protection of their rights, to fix the deficiencies inside the sheriff’s office, and proactively secureour county for the future.”

Currently there is an undeniable employee retention issue at KCSO in the jail, patrol, 911, and administration. Despite raising pay and offering retention bonuses, there continues to be a staffing problem that hasn’t improved in the last four years. There is a lot to overcome to boost morale inside KCSO, keep employees, and start proactively preparing Kootenai County for the future.

WILSON HAS ESTABLISHED A PROFOUNDLY QUALIFIED TRANSITION TEAM

Wilson’s transition team is comprised of an advisory board of both active and retired law enforcement and an undersheriff who is current, active law enforcement in Kootenai County. “My undersheriff is well-loved in the community, highly experienced in police work, patrol, and administrative function, and is apprised of the inner workings of the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. He will be fundamental to the success of the administration and our combined mission of extreme ownership inside the department.”

THE FIRST 90 DAYS

Within his first 90 days in office, two of Wilson’s priorities will be to implement a deputy reserve program and request a forensic audit of the sheriff’s office. He believes that it is irresponsible and unethical to continue returning to taxpayers for cyclical budget problems that are inherent to most law enforcement agencies. “There has never been an audit of KCSO and it’s time to find out whether our tax dollars are being judicially spent, especially before going back to the taxpayers to ask for more money. It’s also time to re-evaluate programs to determine value and necessity. As a businessman, I have one measure of success. Either my business is making money and I’m profitable, or the income is less than expenses and I fail. There is no fallback plan, and the sheriff’s office needs to have more of that mindset. It’s time to take personal responsibility for budgetary shortcomings, not constantly putting that burden back on taxpayers.”

Once elected as sheriff, Wilson plans to connect with the community through routine in-person town halls. He will also continue his weekly live-stream broadcasts, which is the most efficient and accessible way to provide up-to-date information, answer questions in real time, and create an ongoing sense of relationship
and transparency between KCSO and the community.

LIBERTY WITHOUT COMPROMISE

Dan Wilson’s overarching message of Liberty Without Compromise is one of strength, hope, and freedom that has inspired the people of Kootenai County over the last ten months of his campaign. “When a person casts their vote, it is a byproduct of a connection that they have to the message and mission of a candidate.”

Wilson’s priority is to inspire and unite Kootenai County as a common cause for a safe, prepared, and resilient community.

The General Election is on November 5, 2024.

For more information on voter registration in Kootenai County, Idaho or to register to vote visit https://www.kcgov.us/329/Registration-Voting.

JOIN DW'S POSSE

Dan Wilson for Kootenai County Sheriff 2024
285 W Prairie Shopping Ctr, #530
Hayden, ID 83835
info@theidahosheriff.com