Undersheriff, lieutenant square off in race for Blaine County sheriff: John Colby, Democrat

Blaine County Sheriff's Office Lt. John Colby is facing off against Undersheriff Frank Billmayer in the Nov. 6 election for the position of sheriff of Blaine County.

Colby was born in Williston, North Dakota, in 1975 and graduated from Williston High School in 1994, he said. He added that he was raised in law enforcement, with his father working in the juvenile court system throughout his entire life. He grew up around law enforcement, "knowing that's what I always wanted to do," he said.

In 1996, Colby said, he moved to Montana to work as a Blaine County jailer and dispatcher, then in 1998 he went to Harlem to be a patrol officer for the Harlem Police Department. He added that during his time serving Harlem he was promoted to the position of the chief of police. He said the department was consolidated with Blaine County and he worked as a deputy before going to the Williston Police Department in 2002 as a patrol officer, where he later was promoted to senior patrolman.

Colby said that in 2008 he became a contractor with Dyn-Corp International as a police mentor advisor, spending a year in Afghanistan training police officers. In 2010 he returned to Blaine County as a deputy sheriff and was later promoted to lieutenant as well as the K-9 officer.

He added that he has also attended some general classes at the university in Williston, although he did not receive a degree.

Colby said he and his wife, Dawn, have two children, son John J. "J.J." and daughter Aspyn Joy. Colby added that his son recently shipped off for U.S. Air Force basic training.

While in Williston, Colby said, he was a member of Pheasants Forever and in Chinook is a member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Club.

He said his experience will benefit him if elected sheriff.

"Over the last 20 years, I've been dealing with law enforcement and people," he said, adding that the job of sheriff is primarily dealing with people.

"I know how to get results and know the things that do work and the things that don't work in law enforcement," Colby said.

He said the biggest issues facing Blaine County Sheriff's Office are the budget and the growing issue of drugs in the community.

Across the state, different offices and departments have struggled with budgetary restraints and shortfalls, Colby said, and to cope with this Blaine County Sheriff's Office has been taking advantage of different grants and that would continue.

He added that starting a new drug prevention and interception program could also help increase revenue within the office.

Colby said the office also needs to act more frugally, buying things that are needed rather than "gadgets and toys."

Montana, statewide, has a rising concern about drugs within the communities, Colby said. He added that the Blaine County Sheriff's Office needs to continue to partner more with other agencies, such as the Tri-Agency Task Force, and try to expand those relationships. The office also needs to work more with "road officers," the people who make the traffic stops and respond to emergency calls, he said, as well as to educate the community.

Officers need to connect more with one another and share information about the people who are dealing or trafficking drugs into the community, Colby said. He added that the community also needs to communicate more with law enforcement and be educated about what to look for and to report any suspicious activity.

Partnering with other agencies is crucial, Colby said, so if deputies stop someone they suspect is trafficking drugs, regardless of county lines or jurisdiction, officers from multiple agencies and jurisdictions can come together and work with each other to ensure safety.

"Because you don't want one officer searching a vehicle alone, it's dangerous and not a good situation," Colby said.

He said another point of concern is community outreach. Blaine County Sheriff's Office is losing some of the relationship with the community it has built over the years, Colby said.

He said he wants to get deputies more involved with the communities, send the deputies in and build a relationship between them and the people they serve.

Colby said he wants deputies to do presentations on different law enforcement topics for the communities during community events.

"They are the guys that are on the road all the time, they are the ones that need to have the relationship, talking to everybody and getting to know the members of the communities," he said.

Road officers have the most contact with the community, he said, adding that if people start to see them, recognize them, they will start building a relationship with people and be able to keep the communities safer as a result of that relationship.