Ken Furlong, in Carson City, Nev. on Friday, Jan. 13, 2017. Photo by Cathleen Allison/Nevada Photo Source
Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong announced Friday his bid for re-election this year.
Furlong has been sheriff since 2003 and said he's eager for the opportunity to continue the work he has started over the last 15 years.
“I am excited because we are in a great position, not only are the many projects we have been working on over the years entering into maturity, but we believe we have a strong grasp on the future of law enforcement and I am excited that people are on board,” Furlong said.
Prior to holding office, Furlong worked with the Nevada Division of Investigation and Carson City Parole and Probation for two years each and was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years prior to that. And law enforcement runs in his blood — Furlong’s father served as the undersheriff for eight years.
“I have wanted to be in law enforcement since I was born,” Furlong said. “My dad was an officer here and I looked up to him and the people he worked with and they just became iconic figures to me. They were truly a family in law enforcement and I saw nothing but positive feelings from it and it was an ambition of mine and I couldn’t wait for the day when I had the opportunity to do it.”
He said he has stayed in the law enforcement career all these years because of his love for the job and love for the community.
“The bottom line is that I absolutely love this job, I love the people doing it and I can’t say enough about the interagency and interdepartmental cooperation in this community, it makes it so fun,” Furlong said. “For example, when we have big incidents, that traditionally overrun law enforcement, we have agencies like Public Works standing side by side to us and that example of cooperation is so wide spread. It is everyone playing in the sandbox.
“We all have a genuine interest and a common direction here in Carson.”
During Furlong’s terms, he has helped spearhead a number of programs including the School Resource Officers, mental health programs, Victim’s Advocate for domestic violence victims, jail diversion and more.
“I am proud of the many accomplishments we have achieved in this department,” Furlong said. “Every day you have to come to work and you have to create a new vision, yesterday is never good enough.”
“If administration isn’t focused on change in the community, in society, it will falter.”
The community also plays a large part in his decision for re-election.
“I love going to events in the community and telling our community members that what you want matters and I love hearing people’s questions and concerns, to be accountable for what we do,” Furlong said.
Furlong said he's prepared for this election, that he is up for the challenges it brings.
“I am turning 61 years old this year and by God I can still run with a gun with any of these deputies because the man on top better do the same job as everyone else or else you will lose sight of what you are doing,” Furlong said. “I am not nervous because we have been through it all in this department. I have been through IHOP and Carl Howell’s shooting, I have seen families devastated by injury and death so I don’t fear this election because I know we can get through any challenge and I am ready and prepared for it.”
But he said his strategy for this year is simple: keep doing what he's doing.
“As the sheriff, my strategy is to continue to do for the community what we have been doing even when it isn’t an election year,” Furlong said. “We have a job to do and we are on the straight track and an efficient track. Obviously there is an expectation to walk streets and talk to people in neighborhoods that I don’t often see on non-election years, and I will do that when I need to. But we need to make sure we keep doing what we are doing because win or lose, I am still the sheriff for the next 12 months."
If he wins, Furlong said he hopes to continue with efficient enforcement.
“We want to keep crime down and continue to keep the community safe, it is my primary goal, even if this wasn’t an election year. No matter what, we still are responsible for 2018, if you choose to have this administration go forward we are prepared and eager and enthusiastic.
“We had a hell of a year in 2017, the lowest in the last few years and it will be a challenge to continue that, that I am looking forward to,” Furlong said. “We are seeing large increases in domestic violence and that is usually caused by alcohol so part of my priority will be to increase enforcement in those areas. We are attacking it.”