Third candidate to run for sheriff

Bruce Parish, detective commander of Flathead County Sheriff's Office, announced Friday his candidacy for sheriff/coroner.

Parish, 42, will run as a Republican.

He cites a 23-year career in law enforcement, beginning as a law-enforcement specialist with the U.S. Air Force. He served for eight years in New Mexico, Korea, and Spokane, earning the rank of staff sergeant.

He returned to the Flathead Valley, where he grew up.

In 1991, he was hired as a patrol officer with the county sheriff's department.

He was a member of the SWAT team from 1992 to 1996 and is now commander of the team.

In 1999, Parish was assigned to the detectives division and became leader in 2002.

Among the accomplishments he lists are taking over supervision of the 911 emergency center, saving almost $13,000 in the first year, primarily by working with dispatchers to cut overtime costs.

Some high-profile cases in which he was involved include investigations into the Project 7 paramilitary group that resulted in federal sentences and the Troy McGarvey double-murder trial that ended in a conviction.

Parish also mentions his involvement with a new multi-agency team designed to minimize trauma to sex-assault victims while collecting evidence to make a case.

He said the department has been well run.

"I think [retiring Sheriff Jim Dupont] and former Undersheriff [Chuck] Curry have done an absolutely terrific job of building a professional department and I think a big part of that has been the use of common-sense solutions and lack of bureaucracy."

Parish believes the biggest issues facing the department are jail overcrowding and working with all agencies on keeping the 911 dispatch center operating efficiently.

Parish and his wife, Corby, have two grown sons and one at home.

Curry is his campaign treasurer.

Parish faces candidates John Weaver and Undersheriff Mike Meehan in the primary election.