Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton announces reelection bid

Sheriff Leo Dutton is asking voters for another term as the county's highest-ranking law enforcement official, he announced Monday.

The Lewis and Clark County sheriff and coroner announced his plans in a Facebook post.

"I have a few things left that I want to get done," Dutton said Monday morning.

Dutton has spent the last 17 years as county sheriff. He's been with the department full time for almost 30 years, starting in September 1996.

Dutton said among his priorities during another term would be getting the detention center staffed up and expanding the department's communication infrastructure.

He said he would also like to streamline the department's internal communications.

"I want to continue to work for the community and look for ways to enhance their safety," Dutton said.

Since joining the sheriff’s office in 1984 as a reserve deputy, Dutton worked on the SWAT team and earned an Advanced Open Water SCUBA diving certification. He became a full-time deputy in 1996 but continued part time as a paramedic.

Dutton then became a field-training officer and assistant team leader of the tactical unit before being promoted to patrol sergeant in 2000.

Dutton became undersheriff in 2003. He attended the FBI National Academy in 2007 before being sworn in as sheriff in September 2008.

Dutton sits on the Montana Public Safety Radio Board, Montana Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) and Montana Board of Crime Control. He is also a board member with the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and the State Tactical Commanders’ Advisory Board and has been a member of the Western States Sheriffs Association executive board.

Prior to his time in law enforcement, he worked as a full-time flight instructor and as a paramedic. Dutton, originally from Sand Springs, graduated from Garfield County High School and later attended the University of Montana-College of Technology’s Airframe and Power Plant program.

More information on his campaign can be found on his website, leodutton.net.

Candidate filing opens Feb. 17; the general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.

"It takes a while to develop a good reputation," Dutton said. "And that's what I have been aiming to do."