23+ Years of Experience. 8+ Years Leading Sheriff’s Office Operations. Prepared to Lead as Sheriff.

For more than 23 years at the Sheriff’s Office, Richard Schram has served the people of Walla Walla County. Earning trust and increasing responsibility, he advanced from Corrections Deputy to Patrol Deputy, Patrol Sergeant, and Chief Criminal Deputy, giving him a ground-up understanding of the office and the community it protects.

Appointed under two consecutive Sheriffs, Richard has served in command-level leadership for over eight years, leading the day-to-day law enforcement operations of the Sheriff’s Office. He oversees deputies and detectives, operational planning and specialized teams, hiring and training, policy development, and major incidents and investigations. He also plays a key role in budget planning, personnel decisions, and securing grant funding.

That depth of experience is what prepares Richard for the decisions and responsibilities of Sheriff. He understands how the office operates, where its strengths are, where it can continue to improve, and what it takes to lead its people effectively. Richard is ready to bring that experience to the role of Sheriff and lead the office forward.