A Proven Leader in Law Enforcement. Qualified to Serve as Sheriff on Day One.

Dear Walla Walla County Community Members,

My name is Richard Schram, and I am excited to announce my candidacy for Walla Walla County Sheriff.

I was born and raised in Eastern Washington and have spent my entire adult life in Walla Walla County. I was raised with strong family values and respect for hard work. My wife and I chose to build our life here because those same values are deeply rooted in Walla Walla County.

It has been my privilege to serve our county for over 23 years with the Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office. I have learned from three sheriffs who helped shape my leadership style and reinforce the importance of our mission and vision, strong relationships, and empowering a team to succeed.

Throughout his tenure, Sheriff Crider entrusted me to run our Operations Bureau as Chief Deputy. I have been directly involved in developing and refining our operational processes and am deeply familiar with our hiring, training, budget, payroll, and grant acquisition needs. My experience as a deputy in charge of the Marine Division, Field Training Officer, Patrol Sergeant, and SWAT Team member have also helped me build strong relationships and earn the trust of leaders across our community.

As a teacher of Adventures in Boating, I have been able to provide free water safety classes to our community for over a decade. I am also a Washington State Basic Marine Law Enforcement Academy instructor and am certified in NASBLA’s BOAT and IIT curriculums. I have also been able to partner with Washington State Parks to bring free lifejacket and paddle safety classes to our children. I do these things to ensure our community stays safe on our waterways and has highly trained deputies available to respond to on water emergencies in and around our county.

I am a graduate of the 287th FBI National Academy, a Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Trilogy recipient, and hold a BS in Criminal Justice. This combination of training, education, community outreach, and more than two decades of service to our county gives me the confidence to seek the Office of Walla Walla County Sheriff and ensures a smooth transition as Sheriff Crider retires.

My priorities have always been, and will continue to be, protecting what matters most:

• The safety of our loved ones and neighbors
• The prosperity and security of our businesses
• The continued protection of our individual freedoms

Under my leadership, the Sheriff’s Office will uphold our laws with integrity, strengthen community bonds, and prioritize retaining the high-quality personnel our county deserves.

It would be an honor to serve as your Sheriff. I respectfully ask for your support and your vote.