Furlong to become longest-serving Carson City sheriff

Carson City Mayor Lori Bagwell brought some history to the Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday to highlight Sheriff Ken Furlong, who is poised to become the longest-serving sheriff in city history.

Bagwell told those in attendance that Furlong, who took office Jan. 6, 2003, is the 27th sheriff and the sixth sheriff since the city’s consolidation with Ormsby County.

“He’s got to make it through Jan. 7,” the mayor said, prompting Furlong to feign a heart attack. “He will be the longest-reigning Carson City sheriff, so he will take out Mr. Stern … Joseph Stern was Jan. 6, 1913, to Jan. 6, 1935, so look how long it’s taken to break that record.”

Besides making history, the sheriff was treated with a plate of donuts and plaudits from city leaders. Many CCSO personnel attended in what became a celebration.

“We all here in this community want to thank you for all you’ve done,” Bagwell said to applause.

“Very few people know how difficult it is to lead a public safety agency and be responsible for the safety of the people that work for you and the safety of the citizens of this community, but Kenny’s quiet leadership has done that for all of his 22 years and even before that, almost 40 years in law enforcement,” said Supervisor Stacey Giomi.

Supervisor Maurice White said he and Furlong went to junior high together.

“I did not bring that yearbook today, but I can tell you it’s been a very long road and very entertaining working with Kenny,” White said.

Supervisor Curtis Horton commented on past collaborations with the sheriff.

“The one thing — I can tell stories for days, but I will keep it simple — the one thing that impresses the most about Sheriff Furlong: every decision that he makes he keeps the community in mind, and it’s critical. We have had a number of discussions on issues that come up, and it’s always ‘how is this going to affect the community?’ and we should be proud of that because the community and our citizens are his main concern,” Horton said.

“I never ever have seen anyone work so hard as Sheriff Furlong,” said Supervisor Lisa Schuette. “You’re out there all the time, and you give back in ways that are above and beyond. You give back to nonprofit agencies. You give back to kids. You give back to the community as a whole. People feel seen. This whole community feels seen by you, and it’s that above and beyond.”

Asked what he had to say, the sheriff stated, “It’s the best job in the world to have, and I have been chewed out by most of these people up here at one time or another.”

“And chewed us out as well,” Giomi added.

“I tell you, we’ve worked very, very hard over the years to ensure that we stay on a path,” said Furlong.

He praised “the folks that are right here in this room that are actually out there in the front, in the public, doing the job that they do and making sure that we stay on track and doing the best possible job at keeping this community safe.”

“I cannot be more thankful for 20-plus years, that each and every one of these folks has been there when we need it,” Furlong said.

Recognizing lengths of service for other employees, supervisors recognized CCSO Capt. Craig Lowe for 20 years, Linda Lawlor, deputy chief of juvenile probation, for 25 years, and Kimberly Okezie, juvenile magistrate, for 10 years of service.

In other action, supervisors unanimously appointed themselves and representatives to various boards and committees including Giomi as mayor pro tempore for a two-year term, Bagwell to the Regional Transportation Commission for a two-year term, Schuette to the Audit Committee for a one-year term, White to Nevada Works for a two-year term, and Horton to the Carson Airport Authority for a four-year term.

Supervisors also unanimously reappointed Mark Kimbrough to the Open Space Advisory Committee for a four-year term and appointed new members Charles Noury and Keith Shaffer for four-year terms.

During public interviews, Noury and Shaffer discussed open space in relation to quality of life, saying they would build upon the existing program.

According to the city, the “Open Space Program was created by the Quality of Life Initiative, or Question 18, passed by Carson City voters in 1996.”

“The Quality of Life Initiative included the acquisition, development and maintenance of parks, opens space, trails and recreation facilities through an increase in the sales tax rate of ¼ of 1 percent. Forty percent of the funds are designated for the Open Space Program, which currently results in approximately $1 million in annual revenue. The Open Space Program does not operate on any revenue from the General Fund.”

The city currently manages more than 7,000 acres of open space.