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PRESIDENT’S WELCOME:

It is certainly my honor to serve as President of the Western States Sheriffs’ Association for the coming year.  The office of Sheriff has a proud history that spans well over a thousand years.  With the exception of King, no non-religious office in the English-speaking world is older.

Today, most Sheriffs are elected to office and serve as the chief law enforcement officer for a county.  Although the duties of the Sheriff vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, the Sheriffs’ office is generally active in the three branches of the criminal justice system: law enforcement, courts and corrections.   The Office of Sheriff and the law enforcement, judicial and correctional functions he performs today are more than 1000 years old and today, as in the past, the County Sheriff is a peace officer entrusted with the maintenance of law and order and the preservation of domestic tranquility.

The Western States Sheriffs Association was established in 1993 for the purpose of assisting western Sheriffs, and their offices, in dealing with the many Federal legislative issues they faced at that time.   Today, our goal is the same, to address matters affecting the office of Sheriff and to develop a louder, stronger, voice that will be heard in Washington D.C.  We will continue to address policy and procedural matters and develop guidelines to further promote uniformity in the various matters that become important to the many Sheriffs of the western United States.  Together we are working toward keeping the Office of Sheriff strong.

As you visit our website keep in mind that you, the citizens of this great country, are the people who keep your local Sheriff in office.  Let him or her know of your concerns about what is important to you.  And if appropriate, let them know they are appreciated for the job they do. 

Thank you,
Frank J. Park
Tooele County Utah Sheriff and President of the Western States Sheriff’s Association