Candidate profile: Rick Eldredge

Rick Eldredge—Running for Sheriff for all the Right Reasons.
I am grateful for the opportunity to address the citizens of this great county.
As a Utah Highway Patrol Sergeant, I have received the best police training in the state and the nation. The Utah Highway Patrol is nationally recognized as being on the cutting edge of law enforcement. Through this advanced training and 19 years of proven service, I currently possess, and effectively apply, professional police management and leadership skills.
My 19 years of law enforcement have been packed with experience. Ten of those years have come as the supervisor over the Utah Highway Patrol in San Juan County, including being the temporary supervisor over Millard, Carbon, Emery, and Grand counties.
I have received many prestigious awards including the Utah Highway Patrol Trooper of the Year; an award coming from a selection of over 400 State Troopers.
I have received the Utah Public Safety Commissioner Commendation for seizing and removing millions of dollars in drugs from our highways.
I have literally been in the dirt fighting criminals and on my knees consoling victims of loved ones killed in crashes. I have learned that respect, compassion, and empathy are highly effective law enforcement tools.
I am running for San Juan County Sheriff because I am committed to the following things:
Opening Doors through Cooperation - I am committed to working alongside our San Juan County leaders and our city’s Chiefs of Police, mayors, and city councils for the benefit of all San Juan County citizens. We cannot achieve progress and success alone.
Public Safety- Crime is not just a police problem. Crime is a community problem. I am committed to producing highly trained, top notch Deputies that will deliver great public safety services to you. Good law enforcement includes crime prevention. Deputies will be visible and proactive as they patrol county roads and protect your private property. Deputies will train and work with other agencies to ensure unity and progress within all the ranks of law enforcement. I will also enhance the skills and abilities of our dedicated and talented Search and Rescue volunteers through hands-on leadership and advanced training and technology.
I am dedicated to the youth of our county. They are the future and need positive role models. I am currently, and will continue to be, proactive in all our San Juan schools in coordinating with law enforcement and emergency medical teams to bring lifesaving information to our kids.
Federal Intrusion - We live in one of the most beautiful and diverse areas in the world. We have an abundance of public land which frequently results in our federal government folding under the pressure of special interest groups. I will fight to protect our rights and I will do it in a positive manner that fosters cooperation and understanding. It is imperative that I fight the good fight maintaining San Juan County’s integrity without compromising my own.
Native American Reservations - Crime on the Navajo and Ute Reservations has increased tremendously over the last several years. I am committed to working with Tribal and Navajo police to give our Native American citizens the protection they need while preserving Native American tradition and culture.
Fiscal Responsibility - We live in one of the poorest yet highest-taxed counties in Utah. It is absolutely critical that our elected leaders manage each dollar as if it was coming out of their own pocket. I will cut waste! I will seek efficient yet productive ways of doing more with less.
Being raised in San Juan County has been a blessing. I have been taught that God is real, that family will always be there, and that our country is worth living and dying for. I cherish the freedom to enjoy all that San Juan County has to offer, from hunting and camping to four-wheeling and horseback riding. This is why we live in rural America. This is why we live in San Juan County, Utah. And that is why I am running for Sheriff – to help protect our safety, freedom, and way of life.
Vote Rick Eldredge to bring effective, positive leadership change to our San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. Thank you for your support and thank you for your vote at the polls on November 2nd.