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Sheriff Andy Bentz

OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Sheriff Andrew Andy Bentz was raised in eastern Oregon in a family ranching business. He began his law Enforcement career with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office in 1980. For 13 years he worked for the Ontario Police Department. Andy Bentz was elected Sheriff of Malheur County in November 1996 and took office in January 1997.

The Malheur County Sheriff's Office has a staff of 50, about 50 volunteers and is a full service law enforcement agency with a strong emphasis on Comunity Service. The Malheur County Sheriff's Office provides primary law enforcement services to all 9,926 sq. miles of the county as well as operates a 105 bed jail.

Sheriff Bentz is active in his community with service and membership to the DOVE board of directors, Knights of Columbus, Nyssa and the Ontario Chambers of Commerce as well as the Blessed Sacrament Church. Sheriff Bentz and his wife Joan live in Ontario. They have a daughter and a son.

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OREGON SHERIFF Magazine News

Summrt, 2010 -- The Malheur County Jail currently has two openings. Community Corrections has a part-time adult treatment coordinator and a parole & probation deputy opening. The hiring process has begun.

The Sheriff's Office is preparing to renew the five-year law enforcement contract with the city of Vale.

The Malheur County Sheriff's SERT Team had a Sporting Clay fundraiser on April 24, 2010 with 72 shooters participating. Numerous businesses and citizens helped sponsor the event with donations and sponsorships. The team made between $4,000 - $5,000. They would like to thank everyone who helped.

The Malheur County Sheriff's Office has spent three days in the Vale high and middle schools instructing students about laws that could affect students. The laws covered were; minor in possession of alcohol or tobacco, furnishing alcohol to minors, sexting, sex abuse, contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor, harassment, assault, menacing, intimidation, and disorderly conduct. The classes were well received by students, teachers, and a few parents who attended.

Deputy Chris Garner recently certified Community Corrections new drug detection dog "T", a two-year-old Malinois purchased in Idaho. This will be Chris' first opportunity to learn the process of training a drug dog from the beginning. K9 T is one of only two drug detection dogs in the local area. Chris' future plans are to remain as the K9 handler for Malheur County and to become a trainer for the Oregon Police Canine Association to assist new handlers with their canines.

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