Fremont County Sheriff-Elect and Republican Bart Quayle won the vote to be the next Fremont County Sheriff in a landslide victory over opponent Mark Byerhof.
Quayle said one of his goals for the county is to focus on the implementation of technology. He believes technology is part of the future and thinks it is important to embrace it.
“We’re surrounded by mics and computers. All those things require a lot of background work and a lot of maintenance to keep up. It’s not all just blue lights and chasing people. It’s trying to make sure that we can do that safely and … be effective,” Quayle said.
Quayle also talked about the negative connotation some people hold about police. He said that while there has been a lot of support for police in Idaho, law enforcement in other areas of the country have a different story.
“I feel really bad for my brothers and sisters across the country who are in environments that aren’t even nearly as friendly. Ninety-five percent of the time, we have a lot of community support, so I feel blessed that way. It’s not all the time, and certainly, we should hold up our end of the bargain,” he said.
The community often looks at Quayle and others in law enforcement as an example. He said each officer needs to understand the weight of having a badge.
“Influence is leadership … and we need leadership at every level of the organization. If we put a badge on an officer or a deputy and send them out into the public … everybody sees them. They expect a certain level of professionalism,” he said.
Among his core principles, faith also affects Quayle’s career.
Quayle grew up as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became an inactive member as a teenager and young adult.
He said when he became a father, his desire to have a connection with Jesus Christ grew stronger. With the help of church leaders, Quayle returned to church activity.
“I always think of … the Savior holding the door open. He’s been here the whole time. He’s been waiting, and I just stepped in. It’s been phenomenal– can’t imagine my life without my Savior in it now,” Quale said.