Crawford County Sheriff William Rutan is running unopposed in the election this year.
Rutan, who has been the sheriff since Dec. 1, 2014, has a 31-year history in law enforcement. He began his career in Robinson in July 1991.
In the past eight years, Rutan said, he has brought upgraded support to the sheriff’s department.
“I have been able to upgrade cells at the jail, court security and added more correctional officers in the jail,” he said.
He has also been able to add two more deputies for day to day operations and patrols.
“I’ve also upgraded cameras, vehicles and computers,” he said. “I use grants whenever possible to help purchase the items.”
When he started as sheriff, only two vehicles had computers in them.
“Every car on patrol now has a computer,” he stated.
He plans to continue to keep up to date with equipment and purchases when re-elected.
“I want what is best for Crawford County,” he said.
The biggest problem the deputies face is drug-related issues.
“Ninety percent or more of the issues we face are because people are on drugs, looking to get drugs or just did something to get drugs,” Rutan said.
He stated the best thing they can do as a department, is to co-op with local law enforcement agencies to work together.
“Spillman helps the agencies communicate so we all work together to help with the drug issue,” he said.
In order for the deputies to get a drug offender prosecuted, they need more video evidence and a lot of man hours to put all the evidence together for court.”
“It is not just methamphetamine or marijuana, the drug problem also includes alcohol,” Rutan said.
“We have to do our part to make the county safer for everyone for who lives here,” he added.
Rutan married his wife, April, in 2021.