Lincoln County Sheriff Curtis Landers, who started his law enforcement career 34 years ago as a records clerk, has been named sheriff of the year by the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association.

Landers received the award last week at the group’s winter conference in Bend.

The association said the award is given to someone based on their participation and contributions toward OSSA objectives and efforts, and signifies “exemplary service.”

The association said Landers represents it through six different committees and two subgroups. He also spent time during the 2021 legislative session providing advice and testifying on behalf of OSSA. The association said Landers “provides great vision for the executive committee and is always thoughtful in the approach to any issues at hand. He is the first to help and say yes whenever OSSA has a need.”

“Having the opportunity to actively participate on behalf of our citizens through the OSSA greatly benefits our local community through partnerships, funding opportunities and having a voice at the state level from a policy and rule-making perspective,” said Landers in the news release announcing the award.

Landers also received the OSSA President’s Special Recognition Award and has been nominated to be the group’s vice president in 2022. He is currently its secretary.

Landers started with Lincoln County as a records/property clerk in 1987, then became a corrections officer in the jail two years later. In 1991 he started working as a patrol deputy, became a sergeant in 1997, a lieutenant in 2005 and then was appointed sheriff by county commissioners in 2016. He is now serving his second, elected four-year term.