I have a desire to help people. Police work is my “ calling and my passion. It always has been.I want to show them the human side of the badge, I can bring a lot to the table through leading by example. ”
Travis Daugherty is a Republican candidate for Blaine County Sheriff. That election is June 30 and the winner will face a Democratic challenger in November.
Born in New Mexico, Daugherty moved to Watonga at age five and attended school here. He attended Redlands College before becoming a jailer/dispatcher for the Blaine County Sheriff. At that time he also became a reserve deputy. In the years after, Daugherty started and ran two of his own businesses, worked in the oilfield and as a trucker. But he always maintained his status as a reserve deputy and often worked as an officer for local departments including Geary, Canton, Dewey County and the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Daugherty helped the tribal force transition to coverage by the Bureau of Indian Affairs police. He was a deputy for Blaine County when he was promoted to undersheriff by then-sheriff Margaret Parman. He ran for sheriff in 2008 and was determined to do so again.
“I have a desire to help people,” Daugherty said. “Police work is my calling and my passion. It always has been.”
Daugherty said if elected, improvements he would make at the sheriff’s office include bringing awareness to the citizens through communication and transparency with clearly defined procedures. Another is providing specific, specialized training to deputies to enhance the quality of service and crime-solving.
A third is extending equal treatment to every person, city, community, business and organization, exhibiting the same level of respect and standard of commitment to everyone.
Daugherty said one way to accomplish this is to get reinvolved with the schools, holding drug and alcohol awareness assemblies to help curb use among youngsters. He also said officers should be frequent visitors to the schools, even just to eat lunch with the students.
“I want to show them the human side of the badge,” he said. “I can bring a lot to the table through leading by example.”
Daugherty is married to wife Bailey, who is pursuing a degree as a nurse practitioner. He is father to 20-year-old daughter Madison, 17-yearold son Karson, 16-year-old daughter Graison, 13-monthold daughter Blakely and newborn son Huxley.
Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com