JOHN GROSSNICKLE
Sweetwater County Sheriff Candidate
Party: Republican
Listen to our candidate interview below:
Tell us a bit about yourself…
I am a life-long Wyoming resident. I believe in the values that resonate within this State. I am an avid outdoorsman. I love hunting and fishing with my two sons. We especially enjoy bird hunting with the help of our German Shorthaired Pointers.
I am an avid runner and like to work out. I have always been active in athletics throughout high school and was able to earn three NCAA letters as a sprinter while attending Chadron State College.
I am active in youth athletics and other extracurricular activities. Â I am a life member of the North American Hunting Club and The Nation Rifle Association.
I am a member of The Sons of the American Legion, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Muley Fanatics, Trout Unlimited, and The Cowboy Joe Club.
I am on the Board of Directors for the United Way of Southwest Wyoming, Executive Board Member for the Wyoming Peace Officers Association and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Criminal Justice Program at Western Wyoming Community College. Â I am the President of American Legion Post 24 Baseball, along with entering my 23rd year as a Wyoming High School Activities Association sports official.
What makes you the best choice for Sweetwater County Sheriff?
I am currently in my 22nd year of my law enforcement career.  I attended Chadron State College and studied Criminal Justice with an emphasis in law enforcement and received a bachelor of art’s degree.
While at Chadron, I participated in an internship with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation Southeast Enforcement Team, along with an internship with the Chadron Police Department and a comparative justice study program in London England.
I returned to college in 2012 and completed my Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration from Columbia College.
I started my law enforcement career with the Rock Springs Police Department in 1996 as a patrol officer.
After a year and a half, I applied and was hired at the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office where I have been continuously employed for over 21 years.
I started off as a patrol deputy and worked in court security. I tested and was promoted to the rank of detective.
A few years later, I successfully tested and was promoted to the rank of sergeant where I supervised Court Security, Detectives and Patrol. Â Again, I later tested and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the operations section where I currently hold that position.
During my 21 years at the Sweetwater County Sherriff’s Office, I have taken great pride knowing that I have worked hard to help better the community of Sweetwater County.
I have observed the greatness that the citizens of this county epitomize. I have implemented many programs that have bettered the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s.
I was a part of establishing the first structured field training program which set the foundation for the current training program that is currently used at the Sheriff’s Office.
I also conducted the first in-house threat and vulnerability assessments for the courthouses that catapulted the success of the current Court Security Program. Along the way many tasks have been asked of me to create and complete, such as the current body camera program and policy, the current K-9 program and policy, and the upgrade of the technology used on the Sheriff’s Office boat are just a few.
All the while, the ultimate goal was to make the Sheriff’s Office better in order to provide the citizens of Sweetwater County the best law enforcement service possible
What do you hope to accomplish in your first year as County Sheriff?
As your Sheriff, I will continue with my past goals of making the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office the very best law enforcement agency in Wyoming, if not in the United States.
This will be done by Building Community Relationships, Instilling Community Involvement and Input, Ensuring the Safety of Our Youth in and Out of Schools, Supporting the Gun Rights of All Law Abiding Citizens, Committing to Work with all Organizations within the Community for a Common Goal, Ensure the Best Education and Training for All Employees and Improve Minimum Standards for Initial Employment.
With all these areas addressed, I assure you that the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office will be an extension of the people.
The Sheriff’s Office will have your trust and provide an ownership for the citizens within the community that has never been developed within Sweetwater County.
How can voters get in touch with you?
Anyone can get in touch with me in the following ways:
Email: grossnickle4sheriff@wyoming.com
Facebook:Â John Grossnickle for Sweetwater County Sheriff
Twitter: @Gnickle4Sheriff