A little more about Curtis Landers...

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Leadership Experience

 

As Administrative Lieutenant from 2005 to 2016, Curtis served as second in command of the Sheriff’s Office. His responsibilities included risk management, budgeting, policy development, and securing and administering grants. During that time he obtained over 2.7 million dollars in grant funding for Lincoln County.

 

He helped rebuild the county’s public safety communications system through partnerships with local agencies and the State of Oregon. Curtis was instrumental in transitioning Lincoln County’s dispatch services to the Willamette Valley Communications Center, improving safety for first responders while saving taxpayer dollars.

 

Following severe county budget reductions in 2009, Curtis also took on the role of Lincoln County Emergency Manager, helping coordinate emergency preparedness and response efforts.

 

Service as Sheriff

 

As Sheriff, Curtis managed an office of approximately 100 employees and oversaw a 17 million dollar budget. His responsibilities included Patrol, Corrections, Emergency Management, the Animal Shelter, Marine Patrol, School Resource Deputies, Forest Deputies, and contract law enforcement services for Waldport, Depoe Bay, and Yachats, as well as the Siletz Law Enforcement Service District in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.

 

Among the initiatives developed during his time as Sheriff were creating a Pretrial Release Program to reduce forced releases from jail and break cycles of repeat criminal behavior. He also established a Citizen Academy and Community Advisory Group to strengthen relationships between the Sheriff’s Office and the community. Realizing learning from Citizens was an important opportunity to improving service.

 

Curtis worked with county leadership to designate Lincoln County as a Stepping Up County focused on reducing incarceration among individuals with mental illness. He also implemented a Community Service Program supporting both Code Enforcement and Short Term Rental licensing compliance.

 

Curtis created a strategic plan dedicated to the pillars of 21st Century Policing and led the Sheriff’s Office in receiving and renewing accreditation through the Oregon Accreditation Alliance.

 

State and Community Leadership

 

Curtis has served on numerous local and statewide committees, councils, and boards including the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council, State Interoperability Executive Committee, State Homeland Security Program and IMPACTS Grant Review Committee, State Emergency Response Commission, State School Safety Subcommittee, State Health Improvement Plan Behavioral Health Subcommittee, and the Samaritan House Board of Directors where he served as treasurer and chair.

 

He also served on the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association Executive Committee and Legislative Committee and chaired the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Budget Committee. Curtis served on the Willamette Valley Communications Center Advisory Board, including two years as chair and five years on the budget committee.

 

Through his work on the Legislative Committee, Curtis worked to change state law to allow the creation of deflection programs that connect individuals struggling with substance abuse to treatment instead of the criminal justice system. Bringing that model back to Lincoln County was important to him because he believes public safety must also include opportunities for people to rebuild their lives.

 

In recognition of his leadership and service, Curtis was elected President of the Oregon State Sheriffs’ Association in 2023 and was honored as Oregon Sheriff of the Year in 2021 by his peers across the state.

 

Education and Training

 

Curtis attended the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Corrections Academy, Police Academy, Supervisory Program, and Management Program. He accumulated more than 3,000 hours of public safety and leadership training and earned the Executive Certificate, the highest certification awarded in Oregon law enforcement.

 

He also attended the Oregon Sheriffs’ Command College and the FBI National Academy for advanced leadership and management training.

 

Continuing to Serve

 

When Curtis retired in January 2025, he believed his public service was complete. But as he watched the direction of county government, he felt called to step forward once again.Lincoln County gave him a career, a purpose, and a place to raise his family.

 

Now he is running for County Commissioner because he believes Lincoln County deserves steady leadership, thoughtful decision making, transparency, collaboration, partnerships, and respect for the people who live and work here.

 

Public service has never been about power or politics for Curtis. It is about showing up when your community needs you.

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