When I was offered a position with the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, it was a dream come true. It was the culmination of years of hard work, training, and preparation. I started in May 2018 and immediately went to work serving the people of this county. I brought with me the experience and training I had gained while working for two premier law enforcement agencies, and I quickly became one of the most active deputies in the office. I handled more criminal cases and citizen contacts than the other deputies, worked tirelessly, and built a reputation for being firm but fair. I enforced the law, took my oath to uphold and defend the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Utah seriously, and became known as someone people could count on when something needed to be done.
Shortly after beginning my service with the Sheriff’s Office, I saw serious problems in how the office was being run under Sheriff Dale Stacey. There was a troubling lack of training, accountability, and coverage. Deputies did not work regular weekend shifts and were only on call after 8 p.m. Training was treated as a low priority, and the training budget was too small to adequately prepare deputies and dispatchers for the demands placed on them. That is not fair to the men and women doing the job, and it is not fair to the citizens who depend on them in emergencies. I tried to use my experience and training to help raise office standards and improve deputy preparedness, but those efforts were met with resistance and pushbacks. I have never believed that “good enough” is good enough. I have always pushed myself to improve, which is why I was awarded valedictorian in the police academy, and I believe the public deserves that same level of commitment from its law enforcement officers. After seven years of trying to make improvements from within, I realized meaningful change was not going to happen under the current leadership. For the sake of my family and my health, I resigned and returned to the North Park Police Department, serving the citizens of North Logan and Hyde Park.
After leaving the Sheriff’s Office, I was at peace with my decision. But over time, I continued hearing from friends, family, and neighbors who felt their calls for help were not being answered or resolved. People asked me what they should do when they could not get the protection, follow-through, or service they needed. Those conversations made one thing clear: the citizens of Rich County deserve better. I realized that the only way to bring real improvement to the Sheriff’s Office was through new leadership. That is why I made the decision to run for Sheriff of Rich County.
Sheriff Stacey was elected more than 30 years ago after serving only a few years as a deputy. During those three decades, the way the office operates has changed very little, while Rich County has changed substantially. In the more than 26 years I have lived here, I have watched the population grow dramatically. Home values have risen to a level that places Rich County second only to Summit County in median home price, with median home prices now over $700,000. Rich County also has the highest rate of second-home ownership in the state, with more than 90% of homes being second homes, as well as the highest rate of nightly rentals. That growth has brought more visitors, more calls for service, and greater demands on law enforcement. On many weekends, there may be more than 30,000 people in the county. As population and visitor numbers increase, so do public safety needs. Yet despite this growth, the Sheriff’s Office has continued to operate with only four deputies. Deputies have been stretched thin, families have paid the price, and the County has failed to adequately prepare for the demands of today and tomorrow.
State law requires a sheriff to provide and oversee jail services in the county. The jail in Randolph is the oldest operational jail in the state and the last one that still has bars on the cells. That may sound quaint, but the reality is dangerous for both inmates and staff. The facility has serious problems, including raw sewage backing up into the shower area and black mold infestation. A jail should safely house people who have been convicted of a crime or are awaiting trial. It should not be a dungeon. Every person in custody should be treated with basic dignity and kept in conditions that protect both their safety and the safety of staff. It is remarkable that the County has not already faced a civil rights lawsuit over the jail’s condition. The jail appears to be treated as an afterthought, operated on a shoestring budget, with no clear plan to upgrade, replace, or improve it. Once again, the problem is being pushed down the road instead of being addressed.
As Sheriff, I will bring a new standard of accountability, professionalism, and forward-looking leadership to the Rich County Sheriff’s Office. My priorities are clear: reliable coverage, better training, responsible staffing, modern equipment, and a serious plan for safe jail services. I will work to hire additional deputies so Rich County can provide true 24-hour coverage and residents can know that when they call for help, someone will answer. I will make training a real priority—not an afterthought—by seeking a budget that properly supports deputies and dispatchers. The people answering emergency calls and responding to dangerous situations need ongoing, meaningful training in law, crisis response, investigations, communications, officer safety, and community service. I will also pursue funding, grants, and responsible partnerships to either build a safe, modern jail or contract with a surrounding county to house inmates appropriately. Law enforcement has changed dramatically over the last 30 years, and Rich County can no longer afford to operate as though it is still the 1980s.
This campaign is about more than one office or one election. It is about the 
future of public safety in Rich County. As you consider who deserves your vote for Sheriff, I ask you to think about what kind of leadership our county needs. If you or someone you love must call for help, who do you want responding? A deputy trained only to the bare minimum, or a deputy who is well trained, properly equipped, confident in the law, and committed to resolving your concerns with professionalism and integrity? I am running because Rich County deserves accountable leadership, reliable coverage, better training for deputies and dispatchers, safer jail solutions, and a Sheriff’s Office prepared for the future. I respectfully ask for your vote in November so we can build a safer, stronger Rich County together.
Tom’s life has been defined by service, hard work, and a deep commitment to the communities he calls home. Born and raised in Kearns, Utah, in the Salt Lake Valley, Tom attended Kearns High School and learned early the values of responsibility, perseverance, and dedication. At just 17 years old, Tom joined the United States Army as a Combat Engineer with the 321st Engineer Battalion, beginning a lifelong pattern of stepping forward to serve when duty called. At 19, he continued that commitment to service by serving a mission for his church in the California San Jose area. After completing his mission, Tom transferred into the 19th Special Forces Group, where he worked in military intelligence and gained valuable experience in discipline, leadership, and problem-solving.
Tom met his wife, Tiffany, in 1998, and the two were married shortly thereafter, beginning a partnership rooted in family, faith, and community. After their marriage, Tom moved to Cache Valley, where he started a cabinet business with his brother while Tiffany finished school—an experience that strengthened his appreciation for small business, hard work, and self-reliance. In early 2001, Tom and Tiffany made Garden City in Rich County their home, choosing to raise their family in a place known for strong values, close neighbors, and a deep sense of community. Together, Tom and Tiffany raised four children, all of whom attended Rich County schools, while Tom operated his own construction company and built lasting relationships throughout the community.
Tom has never been content sitting on the sidelines. He has served his community in several critical public safety roles, including as a firefighter and Fire Captain with the Garden City Fire Department. He also served with the Rich County Ambulance Service as an Advanced EMT and was a member of the Rich County Search and Rescue team, responding when neighbors needed help most.
While serving in South Salt Lake, Tom was recruited by Chief Hawkes of the North Park Police Department in Cache Valley and invited to bring his experience and dedication to that agency. Tom accepted the opportunity and joined the NorthPark Police Department, where he continued building a reputation for professionalism, accountability, and service. When a position later opened with the Rich County Sheriff’s Office, Tom welcomed the opportunity to serve the county he called home as a deputy.