David Ward (sheriff)

David Ward
Sheriff of Harney County, Oregon
Assumed office
January 2, 2015
Deputy Brian Needham[1]
Preceded by David Glerup
Constituency Harney County
Personal details
Born Drain, Oregon, U.S.
Profession Politician

David M. Ward is an American politician. He is the sheriff of Harney County, Oregon.

Early life

Ward was born in Drain, Oregon, to the son of a military veteran. In high school, he wrestled and played football. After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army, where he served as a combat medic, including deployments to Somalia as part of Operation Restore Hope, and Afghanistan.[2][3] While in Afghanistan, he also trained Afghan soldiers.[3]

Ward left the Army in 1994 and pursued a variety of jobs ranging from ranch hand to mill worker. During this time, he served in the Oregon National Guard. He returned to active service in 1998 and left the Army a second time in 2002.[2]

Following his second separation from military service, Ward worked as a corrections officer in Lake County, Oregon from 2002 to 2007. He later went to work for the Harney County Sheriff's Office as a sheriff's deputy.[4][5] He had been the top cadet in his class at the Oregon Public Safety Academy.[3]

County sheriff

Ward was appointed sheriff of Harney County by the Harney County Court on December 5, 2014, and was sworn in to office on January 2, 2015. His appointment was to fill the unexpired term of retiring sheriff David Glerup. The next election for sheriff of Harney County will take place in November 2016; Ward has announced he will stand in that vote.[6][7]

Refuge occupation

Ward was serving as the Harney County sheriff in January 2016 when a loosely organized militia group occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The occupation was covered by national news media. Ward worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oregon State Police to maintain order and protect local citizens during the occupation.[5] During the standoff, the Los Angeles Times described Ward's evolving public relations savvy, noting that he began "holding events intended to draw media attention, manipulating the twitchy-fingered amplifier of social media and encouraging his supporters to speak up."[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Harney County Sheriff". co.harney.or.us. Harney County, Oregon. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  2. 1 2 Zaitz, Les (January 11, 2016). "Army, rural values help Harney County sheriff face militants". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Friedman, Gordon (January 30, 2016). "Sheriff in Oregon standoff no stranger to battle — and peacekeeping". USA Today. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "About Sheriff Ward". oregonsheriffs.org. Oregon State Sheriffs' Association. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  5. 1 2 Zaitz, Les (January 5, 2016). "Sheriff says steps being taken to end militants' occupation of federal compound". The Oregonian. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ Howe, Steve (December 10, 2014). "David Ward appointed sheriff until next general election". Burns Times-Herald. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Candidates File for Local Election". Burns Times-Herald. December 9, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ Duara, Nigel (January 10, 2016). "In Oregon standoff, local sheriff embraces the spectacle". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
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