Ross Canen knows how to tackle crime. The undersheriff for the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office in Montana has spent 21 years in law enforcement, and is now running for the sheriff’s position.

A longtime member of Local 190 in Billings, Mont., Canen says the primary responsibility of the sheriff is to protect the citizens of Dawson County.  Canen is ready to take on the challenges of the position, which includes managing a budget of $5.3 million and 62 employees.

“In our area we are getting a lot of oil development, which is bringing in more people and more crime. We have an interstate through here that is a pipeline for the drug trafficking trade,” Canen said.

Canen won the primary as a Republican and will face off against a Democratic challenger, although politics isn’t a part of the position.

“It’s the law that we follow, which was made up by Democrats and Republicans over the years,” Canen said. “My view is unions have their place in society, and with politics, it has to be a balance on both sides.”

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