Laramie County Sheriff Candidate: Department Is Too Focused On Immigration

A Republican candidate for Laramie County Sheriff says current Sheriff Brian Kozak is too focused on immigration issues instead of the crimes that affect the lives of county residents.

Eric Norris is an 18-year veteran of the Cheyenne Police Department. He says he has filled a variety of roles with the CPD and currently heads the Crime Prevention Team at the police department.

Norris: Priority Should Be Property Crimes

Norris says that while he certainly supports immigration enforcement. ''I don't believe that should be the 100 percent priority...every agency has their own responsibility. And yes, we are supporting agency and we'll do anything we can to help. But at the same time, that should not be our priority. Our priority should be on those property crimes that are happening in Laramie County, and making sure we are doing the investigation, that we are following the leads."

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Norris cited the Sheriff's Office's recent 'Truck Around and Find Out" campaign as an example of what he says is a misallocation of resources.

''I strongly believe the law should be enforced...but again, that's an ICE operation. And the Highway Patrol runs the ports, so that is where that relationship should be."

He says the department should pitch in on immigration enforcement if asked to do so, but "not their primary job."

Kozak was elected sheriff in 2022 and is running for a second term in that office.

Eric Norris KGAB Interview