Ennis challenges Sprungl for county sheriff
Boundary County Sheriff Greg Sprungl will be challenged by county jail commander Jeff Ennis in the Tuesday, May 27, primary.
The winner can expect to face Independent Allen Gemmrig of Copeland in the Nov. 4 election.
Ennis four years ago lost to Sprungl in the primary by 97 votes in a three-way race for the four-year seat, which pays $48,400 annually. Sprungl and Ennis are Republicans.
As the county’s chief law enforcement officer, the sheriff oversees a staff of 29. They include sheriff’s deputies, emergency dispatchers, driver’s license personnel, civil deputies and the jail staff. The sheriff’s office also enforces laws, investigates crimes and accidents, and handles civil matters, including delivering subpoenas and evictions, handling non-payment of taxes, selling property and more.
Sprungl has served as sheriff for 10 years. The 59-year-old was initially appointed sheriff in September 1994 when former sheriff Bruce Whittaker resigned to take another job. Sprungl was elected in 1996, but lost to George Voyles in 2000.
When Voyles lost in the 2004 primary, Sprungl, who was also running, was appointed sheriff and was elected that November.
In between 2000 and 2004, Sprungl served with the International Police in the Kosovo Mission, where he was second in command for a large police station. Sprungl returned to work as an investigator on the Bonners Ferry Police drug task force.
Prior to getting into law enforcement, the longtime Boundary County resident working in logging and trucking.
In his re-election announcement, Sprungl noted the sheriff’s department now has 24-hour patrol service, an active drug task force, and he has remained within budget.
Ennis has served as jail commander since 1997 and has been a sheriff’s deputy for 23 years, including serving as an administrative officer from 2005 to 2006.
He was a deputy sheriff with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office in Stockton, Calif., for 12 years.
Ennis maintained a 4.0 grade-point average while studying administration of justice at Butte Junior College in California and San Joaquin Delta College.
He is running for a number of reasons, including his concerns for employee turnover within the sheriff’s department. Ennis claims 85 people have left the sheriff’s office in 13 years.
Ennis said he also believes there’s a lack of training in the sheriff’s office.
“Idaho peace officer standards in training only requires 20 hours of training annually per person,” he said. “For a person to effectively do their job, there has to be ongoing training. There is a plethora of free training available.”
In related matters, county prosecutor Jack Douglas is unopposed for another term. The job pays $51,150 annually.