13/09/2025
Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam Announces Plan to Run for Re-election.
His campaign website states:
“Sheriff Darin Balaam, the 27th elected sheriff of Washoe County, assumed office in January 2019 and is currently serving his second term through December 2026.
A fifth-generation Nevadan raised in Sparks, Sheriff Balaam brings more than 28 years of service at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), rising through every rank, including as Assistant Sheriff. He led critical units, including the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), Hostage Negotiations, K9, Regional Bomb Squad, Detectives, and the Northern Nevada Regional Intelligence Center (NNRIC).
He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno, and an M.S. in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Louisville. He is a graduate of the FBI Southwest Command College, the Southern Police Institute, the FBI National Executive Institute (NEI), and the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP). He also serves as an adjunct professor of criminal justice for the Nevada System of Higher Education, sharing his experience with future law enforcement leaders.
Guided by the values of trust, accountability, and public safety, he has led the WCSO through significant reforms, including tripling the number of deputies hired during the pandemic, expanding mental health services within the jail system, launching anti-trafficking initiatives, and combating the opioid crisis.
Above all, Sheriff Balaam is a proud husband to his wife, Heather, of 27 years. Heather’s unwavering support has been central to his service and leadership. Together they have raised four children—while their youngest is still in school—and now enjoy two grandchildren, who serve as a daily reminder why strong families and safe communities matter most.”
