A message from Sheriff Landers:
Sheriff Landers will not seek re-election for 2025. It is with very mixed emotions that I share my decision not to seek re-election for the position of Sheriff in the upcoming term, which will begin on January 6, 2025. Serving in the Sheriff’s Office for 36 years, and as Sheriff for the past 7 years has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for the support and trust you've placed in me. After much consideration, it is the right time for our agency and for me personally. I believe it is the right time for a new leader to guide our Sheriff's Office forward and build upon the foundation we've laid.
As we navigate this transition, I have full confidence in the capable hands of the dedicated individuals who make up your Sheriff’s Office. I would like to express my true appreciation to the outstanding work they do to keep you safe. I am committed to working closely with the team to ensure a smooth transition and to provide any support needed over the next 11 months. I want to express my deep thanks for the trust and support our citizens have shown me throughout my time as Sheriff. I am humbled and honored to serve you, and I look forward to seeing our community continue to flourish under new leadership.
Sheriff Curtis Landers
Adam Shanks declared his candidacy for Sheriff of Lincoln County to
succeed Sheriff Curtis Landers who will not be seeking re-election. Shanks, who has been with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for over 27 years stated, “I am excited to announce I am running for Lincoln County Sheriff. It has been my honor to have served our citizens and to have worked with an amazing team at the Sheriff’s Office throughout my career and I want to continue to serve as their Sheriff.”
Shanks has been a resident of Lincoln County since 1983 and is a Newport High
School graduate. He began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in 1995 as a
seasonal marine cadet while furthering his education at Lane Community College
where he earned an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Shanks was hired by
the Sheriff’s Office as a full-time patrol deputy in 1997.
As a patrol deputy, Shanks served all communities in Lincoln County and was
assigned as a contract deputy in the City of Waldport for one year. Additionally,
he served as the Sheriff’s Office reserve program coordinator for two years and
coordinated a reserve deputy academy for multiple law enforcement agencies
within Lincoln County. He was also appointed to field training officer tasked with
training new deputies. In 2005, Shanks was promoted to the rank of sergeant in the patrol division where he managed the field training program, scheduling, career development
training for patrol deputies, the Sheriff’s Office canine program, and supervised
the search and rescue team.
In 2017, Shanks was promoted to his current rank of administrative lieutenant
under Sheriff Landers. As the administrative lieutenant, he is responsible for
obtaining and administering grants. He has secured over 2 million dollars in grant
funding for the Sheriff’s Office. These funds have added an additional full-time
counselor to work with Adults in Custody in the Lincoln County Jail, ancillary
resources for the Sheriff’s Office pretrial release program such as temporary
housing, transportation and communication resources, as well as monitoring
resources for citizens released from custody awaiting trail. Shanks has also
secured grant funding for a Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program utilized
by all law enforcement agencies in Lincoln County which focuses on diverting low
level offenders and high utilizers of public safety services away from immediate
incarceration through navigators that connect clients with community-based
resources to improve their quality of life and reduce crime in Lincoln County.
Shanks also oversees Lincoln County’s emergency management division and the
emergency radio communications system utilized by several police/fire agencies
and the county road department. His additional duties include developing polices
and procedures for the Sheriff’s Office, training program management, budget
development and management assistance, risk management, and overseeing the
Sheriff’s Office wellness program and peer support team. Shanks was recognized
as Employee of the Year for the Sheriff’s Office in 2019.
Shanks has been married for 25 years to his wife Kerry. They have one son,
Caden, who is currently enrolled in his senior year of college. Shanks enjoys
traveling, golfing, sports, and socializing with friends. “I look forward to connecting further with our community through this process,” stated Shanks. “We have many diverse communities with different needs and desires in the law enforcement services they receive. I have been fortunate to build many community partnerships throughout Lincoln County and am committed to serving all of our residents and visitors in an equitable and
respectful manner.” For more information, please contact Adam Shanks at:
