Richter to be Undersheriff

Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer has appointed a five-year veteran of the Valley County Sheriff's Office to serve as Undersheriff. Chris Richter assumed the position after a lengthy search that involved the screening of eight candidates from around the country.

Boyer commented on why the search had taken so long to complete, saying, "For me, it was really the most important decision that would affect the next four years, so I wanted to make the right decision."

Boyer stated that he had interviewed a total of eight candidates including three current deputies. One applicant lived as far away as Florida and another from Pennsylvania. In the end, Boyer chose Richter for Undersheriff.

"I believe that the Sheriff and Undersheriff need to walk instep. They need to compliment each other,"said Boyer. "It affects everything, especially the people of Valley County. That's why it was so important to me to take the time and not make a quick-snap decision."

He expressed excitement to have Richter as the second in command.

"I chose him for his character and demeanor," explained Boyer. "He compliments my shortcomings. He is not a quick-decision maker. He likes to think and analyze, which compliments my quick decision making."

Boyer stated that he had confidence in Richter's abilities to lead the team, make decisions and keep an even keel with the public and with the deputies.

"He has the tactical ability to help train the office and help the deputies mature," said Boyer. "He [Richter] is capable of bringing that to the position.I'm really excited with this choice"

Richter, for his part, is excited and apprehensive for the new position. "I'm excited. I'm just not the type of guy to express it," stated Richter.

One of the more senior deputies in the office (he came on as a deputy in 2013), Richter has held a number of jobs and special skills. He was a member of the regional Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, managed the DUI Task Force, was a Search and Rescue liaison and more recently took on the role of Valley County's representative on the regional drug task force.

Richter was born in Havre and grew up in Big Fork. After high school he started a criminal justice degree at the University of Great Falls before transferring to MSU-Billings and completing the degree. He took a position with the Great Falls Police Department, but unsure of the big city department he and the department parted ways at the end of his field training.

Following police work, Richter started working for a golf course and made plans to get his pro card, but was also in need of year-round work. As he tells it, Richter saw a Sheriff car drive by and decided to get back into it. He called up a friend of his from the academy (Deputy Matt Remmich), and ended up in Valley County as a deputy.

Boyer has been Sheriff since Jan. 1, and in that time he has focused on getting the right people in the job. Since the election the office has hired two new deputies (one about to complete the academy and one to start in April), but the office still needs to hire one more deputy.

As Boyer described the process, "Part of leading is getting everyone in the right position to advance their strengths, enhance the office and serve the public in the best manner possible."