Should Okanogan County Sheriff Paul Budrow run for reelection, he will face a challenge from his deputy, Okanogan County Chief Criminal Deputy Jodie Barcus.
Barcus began her career in law enforcement with the Colville Tribal Police Department in 2009. She made a lateral move to Patrol Deputy in 2017, was promoted to Patrol Seargent in 2022, and Chief Criminal Deputy in 2023.
Her current responsibilities include overseeing patrol operations, major criminal investigations, and search and rescue.
“I am proud to announce my candidacy for Okanogan County Sheriff. I am a resident of Okanogan County and a career law enforcement professional who has dedicated more than 16 years to serving the people who live, work, and raise families here,” she said in a press release. “This county is my home, and public service has been my calling.”
Barcus was the face of a recruitment video for the sheriff’s office. She was also involved in a fatal shooting with two other officers in 2020. The deceased, who was wanted on a felony warrant and was a suspect in a burglary, fired first at the officers but was ultimately outgunned.
Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office faced a significant staffing shortage and has made several new hires recently, according to their Facebook page.
Barcus said as sheriff, she would continue to invest in retention-focused leadership, increasing access to advanced and specialized training and actively recruiting experienced staff through all divisions of the sheriff’s office.
