Candidates for Washoe County Sheriff Forum

HEIDI HOWE:  In 1988 Heidi began her law enforcement career as an officer with the Reno Police Department, as both a volunteer reserve and career officer. In 1991, she set out on a decorated and devoted career with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, rising in the ranks of the department from deputy, to sergeant, to lieutenant, to captain.

Heidi served 20 of her 26 years with the WCSO in supervisory positions, overseeing a vast range of responsibilities including, but not limited to: hostage negotiation, district courts, officer recruitment, regional police academy commander, crime scene operations, and training.

Heidi managed a team of 350 law enforcement deputies and civilians, oversaw a $56 million budget, supervised custody of more than 1,300 adult detainees, and lead the $20 million jail expansion from breaking ground to ribbon cutting. She also is the most innovative, collaborative, and understanding of our needs for the future, including her unique initiatives to treat substance use disorders in the jail, adjusting to the growth of our city, keeping our spending local, and regional special victims units and programs for seniors, veterans and victims of sex trafficking.

Nevada-rooted, Heidi graduated from Hug High School, where she met her husband. She earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Columbia Southern University, and continued her professional development attending the Senior Management Institute for Police training at Boston University, and the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officer’s Course at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.
 

DARIN BALAAM:  For 21 years Darin Balaam served in the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office in several leadership positions, including Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and Assistant Sheriff.

As Assistant Sheriff, the third highest position in the Sheriff’s Office, Darin managed a $98 million budget and was responsible for 754 employees and over 500 volunteers. He has worked in all three bureaus of the Sheriff’s Office: Operations, Detention, and Administration. He also commanded the tactical units for the SWAT, Hostage, and Detention Response teams.

As Sheriff, Darin’s four priorities will be 1) keeping up with the growth in our community by adding ten new deputies on the line each year over four years, 2) combatting sex trafficking in our community and assisting victims, 3) attacking the opioid crisis, and 4) enhancing mental health services for inmates in the detention center.

Darin is a graduate of the University of Nevada with a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, and he earned a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville. He is a proud father of four and lives with his family in Sparks.