April 11, 2016
By Paul Joseph, Paragon Communications News Director –
Undersheriff Kenneth Tidwell is eager to turn paperwork in on Wednesday morning as a candidate for Custer County Sheriff.
Current Sheriff Bruce Peoples – who started the job December 1, 2008 following a special election – announced four-weeks ago that he would not seek reelection. Peoples will have completed two full, four-year terms by the time his present term comes to an end.
The 45-year-old Tidwell says he’s already got his papers filled out and hasn’t changed his mind.
Tidwell has 22-years as a deputy sheriff in an overall 24-year law enforcement career.
Born in Cheyenne, he began his career as a reserve police officer at Goodwell and then became employed full time as an officer in Guymon. Hired in 1994 as a deputy, he’s been with the Custer County Sheriff’s office ever since.
At the request of Custer County Commissioners, he served six months as interim sheriff in 2008 before Sheriff Peoples was elected and took office.
He has served as Undersheriff for Peoples for the last eight years and says there may be an occasion or two when he picks up the phone and ask Bruce Peoples for advice.
Tidwell says – as undersheriff – he’s been responsible for both the administrative and operational oversight of the office and has functioned as sheriff on occasions in People’s absence.
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