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Robert Norris (sheriff)
Robert Brian Norris is the 13th Sheriff of Kootenai County, Idaho.[1] As the Republican candidate for the office, he defeated the independent candidate for sheriff, Mike Bauer, in the 2020 Kootenai County Sheriff race, making him the first Kootenai County Sheriff to not have any prior connection with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office (KCSO).[2] In 2024, he was re-elected after defeating challenger, Dan Wilson.[3] Before becoming Sheriff, he was a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.[4] Career at the LASDDuring Norris's career at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), his assignments included patrol, custody, narcotics, gangs, investigations, counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness.[4] Norris also graduated from the LASD's Leadership Certification program. After 9/11 Norris was selected to lead a team at the newly created Joint Regional Intelligence Center (JRIC) to assist the United States during the war on terror. Norris held a security clearance for sensitive compartmented information and was responsible for managing personnel and resources from local, state, and federal agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and the US Attorneys Office while under the direction of Condoleezza Rice. After leaving the JRIC, he was promoted to Lieutenant at the LASD by former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca.[4] Since Norris's career at the LASD and his move to North Idaho, Norris volunteered with the Kootenai County Search and Rescue team from 2017 to 2019. Kootenai County SheriffNorris was appointed to the office on January 1, 2021, due to his predecessor leaving the office early. He was appointed unanimously by the Kootenai County board of commissioners (BOCC).[5] His appointed term lasted, 11 days, from January 1 to January 10, 2021. He was officially sworn in as the elected Kootenai County Sheriff on January 11, 2021.[6] ReformNorris has annually sought an increase in the Sheriff's department budget.[7] Since the start of his term in 2021, the Sheriff's department budget has seen an 18.91% increase.[8] Since 2022, the Sheriff's department, in partnership with the non-profit Kootenai County Regional Air Support, has been authorized to operate a helicopter to support regional search and rescue missions, as well as other first responder operations.[9] ControversyTraffic stop pepper spray incidentIn Norris's first month as the Kootenai County Sheriff, a viral video showed him pulling out pepper spray while talking to a man who was recording a traffic stop.[10] The video showed Brad Nelson, a citizen of Kootenai County, asking questions regarding a traffic stop. After Nelson got close enough so a Sheriff Lieutenant and Norris could hear his questions, Norris approached Nelson and asked him to step back. Nelson was apprehensive and told Norris to, "Shut the fuck up and get back to work."[11] Norris stepped closer, threatening to use his pepper spray, which ended the confrontation. Norris later issued a press release in the Coeur d'Alene Press, stating, "The idea of local citizens using their video cameras with the intention of harassing our officers and interfering with their duties, only to later portray us online as if we were in the wrong, contributes to this national disgrace."[12] COVID-19 pandemicDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, he released multiple press statements saying that he would not enforce COVID-19 guidelines or mask mandates.[13][14] Unauthorized removal of booksIn 2023, Norris claimed that books with explicit sexual content were available to teenagers in local libraries, specifically citing the books Deal With It! A Whole New Approach to Your Body, Brain, and Life as a Gurl and Identical.[15] Norris argued that these books generally violated Idaho state law and should be placed in an area for adult library patrons only.[16] Norris's unauthorized removal of two books and his refusal to return them drew public attention to the county.[17][18] Under Idaho Code §18-2403, theft includes knowingly taking or exercising unauthorized control over property with the intent to deprive the owner of its use or benefit.[19] The Community Library Network (CLN), which operates the Post Falls library, defended the books following Norris's actions, noting that they are classified as young adult non-fiction. CLN also clarified that minors require parental or legal guardian permission to sign up for a library card.[20] The CLN had and continues to have a process in place for people to request that the library reconsider the materials it makes available to youth.[21] Pennie Collinson defamation claimIn July 2024, Pennie Collinson, a photographer who had worked for Norris's opponent from the 2020 election during his 2022 primary campaign for county clerk, filed a notice of tort claim against Norris personally, seeking over $500,000 in damages for defamation.[22] She alleged that during an April 2024 campaign event, Norris made derogatory remarks about Collinson and her photography business.[22][23] After the defendants, Norris and Kootenai County, failed to respond to the initial tort claim, Collinson was able to file a lawsuit in October 2024.[24] The lawsuit accuses Norris of slander, defamation, placing her in a false light, and causing emotional distress.[25] Addressing the lawsuit once more in a sheriff's office news release, Norris reaffirmed his stance, describing the claim as politically motivated and promising to contest what he termed "a hoax".[24][25] He offered a $10,000 reward to members of the public who could assist with defending himself from the personal lawsuit, issuing his statement on the official sheriff's office letterhead and posting it on the office's Facebook page.[22] The Spokane Spokesman-Review reported the response of Fred Scheffelmaier, owner of the Country Barn Bed and Breakfast in Cataldo, who hosted the forum where Norris allegedly made his statements. Scheffelmaier expressed shock at what Norris said, saying, "Why would you call someone something like that in a public meeting?"[25] His use of official sheriff's office resources to address personal allegations raised concerns regarding the legality of his actions, prompting inquiries to state agencies for clarification on potential campaign finance violations.[26] ICE detainee surgeIn January 2025, under Norris's leadership, the Kootenai County Jail saw a sharp rise in out-of-state detainees held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, particularly from states where laws limit law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities.[27] Norris attributed this spike to the Trump administration’s executive orders on immigration enforcement and the passage of the Laken Riley Act.[28][29] Kootenai County receives $112 per day per detainee under a federal contract. These financial incentives raised concerns that the increase in ICE detainees was artificially manufactured.[27] Norris defended his office’s cooperation with federal authorities, stating that the focus remains on "criminal aliens" and that he views the Sheriff's Office working with ICE and Border Patrol as a necessity for keeping the community safe.[28] 2020 Kootenai County Sheriff raceCampaignPrimary raceIn late-2018, Norris announced he would run for Kootenai County Sheriff.[30] Several potential Republican sheriff candidates, including KCSO Captain Kim Edmondson, businessman John Grimm, former U.S. prosecutor Scott Jones, former house representative John Green and retired Texas officer Richard Whitehead, all announced their campaigns shortly after one another.[31] On July 11, 2019, Jones officially dropped out of the Sheriff's race and announced the next day that he intended to endorse Norris.[32] Captain Kim Edmondson and businessman John Grimm joined the race as moderate Republicans. Many local Kootenai County residents, including former Sheriffs Wolfinger and Pierce Clegg, found Edmondson's campaign appealing, as she was the only candidate with law enforcement experience within the KCSO.[33][34] As the primary election got closer, the race for Sheriff became more aggressive politically;[35] one campaign had even begun being investigated by the FBI.[36] Many noted that this Sheriff election seemed much more divisive than the ones prior. Former Sheriff Wolfinger agreeing with that sentiment, but also noting that this hadn't been the first time a Sheriff's election had become so polarized.[34] Norris won with nearly 3,000 more votes over Edmondson, making him the official Republican candidate for Sheriff.[37] General electionMike Bauer, a former Captain at the LASD, decided to file his paperwork for Kootenai County Sheriff in the spring of 2019.[38] Many speculated about his reasons for joining the already crowded race and filing with a non-partisan affiliation, despite formerly being registered as a Republican. In an interview Bauer did, when asked why he was running for Sheriff, he said, "I'm not – impressed with the four candidates that are running, especially one that seems to have a – unverified background."[39] Bauer's campaign had proof that Norris had donated $600 to Paul Tanaka’s Mayor of Gardena campaign.[40] Bauer claimed that this donation had proved Norris was involved in the LASD pay-to-play scandal which found Tanaka had worked with former L.A. Sheriff Lee Baca to promote those who had donated to Tanaka’s mayoral campaign.[41] Norris did receive a promotion within the department where he worked, but it came six years after the original donation.[42] During the heat of the 2020 campaign, Bauer leveraged the fact that Norris had worked under convicted felon, Sheriff Baca, sharing documents and photographs with the previous sheriff, Sherman Block, whom Norris had never worked for.[43] Aware that Bauer had also worked under Baca, Norris contacted L.A. Sheriff photographer Jaime Lopez and asked for access to Bauer's personnel file, claiming that Bauer had suffered a flood and needed assistance restoring lost documents and images.[44] In reality, there had been no flood; Norris was trying to obtain photographs showing Bauer and Baca together. At the end of the Bauer campaign, Bauer had received notable endorsements from Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich and previous Kootenai County Sheriff Pierce Clegg. Bauer also boosted support for a non-partisan sheriff's office,[45] which the Kootenai County BOCC would soon consider after the general election.[46] In 2022, the BOCC's decision not to move forward with optional forms of county government, including an appointed sheriff, was made.[47] Justin Nagel, a carpenter and Kootenai County native, decided to file as well. He campaigned as the only "born and raised" Idahoan candidate in the race for Kootenai County Sheriff. He ran on the Libertarian ticket and received just over 8,000 votes in the general election.[48] 2020 Election resultsOfficial Results from the Kootenai County Clerk's Office are shown.[49] Sheriff candidates are listed individually below if they received more than 0.1% of the overall vote.[50]
Official Results from the Kootenai County Clerk's Office[51][50]
2024 Kootenai County Sheriff raceCampaignPrimary electionNorris won the 2024 Kootenai County Republican primary election for sheriff, securing another victory over challenger Mike Bauer. Norris attributed his strong margin of victory to his efforts in improving the sheriff's office.[52] Bauer, running for the position for the second time, acknowledged the shifting political landscape in the county and expressed respect for Norris's electoral success, viewing the outcome as a reflection of the public's opinion on Norris’s leadership, despite Bauer's significant reservations.[52] General electionNorris faced three independent challengers in November 2024: Kyle Woodward, Dan Wilson, and returning third-party challenger Justin Nagel.[52] Woodward, a college student and the youngest candidate in the 2024 Kootenai County General Election at 23 years old, filed his paperwork in March 2024.[53][54] His campaign focused on protecting constitutional rights and opposing the use of Automated License Plate Readers.[55] Nagel, once more, emphasized his status as the only candidate "born and raised" in Idaho, also filed in early March.[48][56] Wilson, who initially filed as a Republican candidate for sheriff in the May primary before withdrawing, re-entered the race in March as an independent candidate under the slogan "Liberty without Compromise."[57][58] His campaign highlighted concerns similar to those raised in the 2020 Bauer campaign, including issues with Norris's disability claim from the Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association, alleged corruption, and Norris's career with the LASD.[59][60] In response to these claims, Norris held a town hall where he addressed many of the allegations posed by Wilson.[61] He mentioned his LACERA disability rating, which he clarified was not a "100%" impairment but rather a "12%" rating.[58] He also addressed allegations involving Kootenai County Commissioner and his former campaign manager, Bruce Mattare, whom Wilson claimed had unauthorized access to information in law enforcement databases.[62][58] Norris countered by presenting a public records request, which indicated no record of Mattare holding credentials for database access.[58] However, this did not disprove that Mattare may have had access to the data Wilson alleged, given his special deputy status—a role granted by Norris that Mattare holds as the only elected official in the county with such status.[63] Norris also addressed long-standing accusations about his alleged involvement with the Lynwood Vikings, a white supremacist sheriff gang, firmly stating that he is not a member of "any secret society."[58] Although Wilson spent a similar amount on his campaign as Norris did during the 2024 general election cycle, he still did not achieve a higher vote percentage than Bauer had in 2020.[64][65] Wilson refused to concede, falsely suggesting Kootenai County electoral fraud.[66] Wilson, though, did manage to prevent Norris from reaching 70% of the vote once more.[67] 2024 Election resultsOfficial results from the Kootenai County Clerk's Office are shown.[68] Sheriff candidates are listed individually below if they received more than 0.1% of the overall vote.[69]
Official Results from the Kootenai County Clerk's Office.
References
External links
Information related to Robert Norris (sheriff) |
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