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March 29th, 2024

ryan roehrSeward County Undersheriff Ryan Roehr works at his desk recently. Roehr was chosen by Sheriff Gene Ward after Ward was elected last November following the retirement of longtime sheriff Bill McBryde. L&T photo/Robert PierceROBERT PIERCE • Leader & Times

 

After graduating from Southwestern Heights High School, Ryan Roehr got a degree in criminal justice at Garden City Community College.

Soon after that, Roehr went to work as a jailer in Finney County, where he spent about a year before coming to work for the Liberal Police Department.

Roehr worked with the LPD for two years, and in 2011, he was hired at the Seward County Sheriff’s office. In 2014, then Sheriff Bill McBryde promoted Roehr to sergeant.

Recently, Roehr was promoted by current Sheriff Gene Ward to the office of undersheriff. Roehr said his interest in law enforcement came after an experience with an incident which happened to occur on the day of an annual celebration all too familiar to Liberal.

“There was a bad accident once,” he said. “It was on Pancake Day on the river bridge. My friend and I were the first to pull up to the accident. Someone was hurt pretty badly. I just remember how everybody looked up to the highway patrol and the sheriff’s office whenever they showed up on scene. I just thought that’s the type of person I want to be. I want to be the person people want to come to when there’s that type of situation.”

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Across the country, much recent sentiment has been directed against law enforcement, with some calling to defund departments. Roehr said little, if any, of that attitude is seen locally.

“I don’t feel I’ve experienced that,” he said. “We get a lot of support here. I can’t personally say I’ve experienced those feelings from people in our county. I feel we have a lot of support behind us.”

Roehr said local residents seem to reflect a different attitude toward law enforcement, one of cooperation.

“They give us plenty of information,” he said. “When there’s a picture of a vehicle or a suspect posted, people are very good about letting us know if they’ve seen the car or that person. They’re very informative and help us out.”

Having most recently served in the undersheriff position, Ward said he saw qualities in Roehr he feels made him the best candidate for the job.

“I think the undersheriff position is a PR position and a command,” he said. “I’ve known Ryan since he started with the PD, and he doesn’t act before he thinks. I think he’s got a good heart, and the guys listen to him. They have respect for him. It was an easy choice. There were other people who wanted it, but I just think he interacts with people like what I want for this office. I know he can deal with the load of work that position has.”