Sheriff Jesse Slaughter officially took office in Cascade County after he was sworn in by District Judge John Parker.
Slaughter said Tuesday he is excited to step into the leadership position and his 18 years with the Great Falls Police Department prepared him well.
The new position comes with challenges as he enters office including an investigation by the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) into spending irregularities by members of the Sheriff’s Office.
“It is a challenge and it is an unfortunate challenge to be coming into an office to, however, I feel confident in DCI’s ability to conduct an investigation and to give those people involved their due process and when we get the findings of the investigation, we’ll then move forward,” Slaughter said.
He added he has many plans for the coming year including creating a Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy, establishing resident deputy positions in rural communities, and working on overcrowding at the Cascade County jail.
“We have a lot of work to do on the detention side of the house, to help shore up some things, to help create and maintain the safety of that facility in the community as well,” he said. “So we’re gonna have a lot of projects going on this year. It’s going to be a really exciting time.”
Slaughter said a formal ceremony will be held Friday to swear him in along with other members of the Sheriff’s Office.
The new Cascade County undersheriff is Cory Reeves, a former student resource officer at Great Falls High School and Paris Gibson Education Center.
-Reported by Joe Huisinga/MTN News
- GFPD bids farewell to Jesse Slaughter; Sheriff Bob Edwards signs off
- Sheriff’s Office being investigated for possible financial “irregularities”
- Houston named new SRO while Reeves moves to undersheriff
- Cascade County unofficial results released; Slaughter elected sheriff
