Harkins earns promotion through election
By DANA DUGAN
There’s a new sheriff in town. Steve Harkins, 43, became the sheriff-elect for Blaine County following the General Election on Nov. 8. He will replace current sheriff Gene Ramsey on Jan. 9, 2017. Harkins ran unopposed.
“It was a tough race,” he said, laughing.
Harkins has served under Sheriff Ramsey for 18 years, with the last two as Ramsey’s chief deputy.
“I have witnessed his service and dedication firsthand, on a daily basis,” Harkins said of his mentor.
Harkins moved to the Wood River Valley in 1992, where he began his career in law enforcement with the Hailey Police Department as a patrol officer. In 1998, he was hired by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office as a detective. In 2009, he was promoted to chief of the Ketchum Police Department.
“It was during my time at Ketchum that I learned how to effectively manage a department while maintaining fiscal restraint and accountability,” Harkins said.
In early 2014, Ramsey appointed Harkins to be the chief deputy, providing further leadership experience and the ability to watch and work closely with Sheriff Ramsey. Harkins has earned advanced, management, and master certifications from the State of Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, and graduated from the FBI Executive Command College with more than 2,000 hours of specialized law enforcement training.
“I am truly honored to have been elected as the next sheriff of Blaine County and will follow in the honorable tradition of those who have served our community as sheriff since 1864,” Harkins said in a statement. “I promise to work hard to earn your trust. I will seek to provide the highest standard of leadership for the best interest of our citizens and visitors. With the help and input from my dedicated staff, we will continue to provide and improve the level of law enforcement you expect and deserve. As your future sheriff, I will always be accessible for any questions or concerns the public may have, with a focus on transparency and honesty.”
Originally from Kimberly, Harkins lives in Hailey with his wife, Lisa Thilmont, a teacher at Hailey Elementary School, and their daughter, a student a Wood River High School.
“I can think of no better place in the world to call home,” Harkins said.
