Sheriff Mark Crider

Sheriff Mark Crider was elected in 2018. After graduating from The Ohio State University, he attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. He was commissioned in April of 1985, earned his wings in May 1986, and was designated as a Naval Flight Officer flying F-14 Tomcats. After attending the west coast VF-124 Replacement Air Group squadron at NAS Miramar, he served with VF-191 Satan’s Kittens and VF-213 Blacklions. He was then assigned to the Pacific Missile Test Center at NAS Point Mugu conducting test flying on the F-14 A, B, and D and various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. While at Point Mugu, he also graduated with a MS degree from the University of Southern California. After serving in the US Navy for ten years, he became an FBI Special Agent. He was a defensive tactics, firearms, tactical and SWAT instructor as well as a SWAT sniper. He is also an FBI Master Police Instructor and a Technically Trained Agent. As an FBI agent he was assigned to Milwaukee, Spokane, and FBI Headquarters as well as deploying to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He retired from the FBI in 2018 after 22 years of service. He started as Undersheriff at the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office in 2018. He has also served as the secretary/treasurer, vice president, and is currently the President of the Washington State Sheriff’s Association.

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What is your current position?

Walla Walla County Sheriff, elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

What inspired you to choose this career path?

It was never in my plan as I was a career FBI Special Agent (22 years), but when I retired, the former Sheriff talked me into being his appointed Undersheriff. Two months later, he announced he was not running again. The Deputies asked me to run, and the rest is history.

How did you hear about the Claremont Institute?

I got a random—although I am not sure it was random—email. When I did a little research on the Claremont Institute, I recognized Sheriff Mark Lamb’s name as someone I knew. I called him and asked his opinion, and he had nothing but a glowing endorsement. I applied and was accepted, and it was a great decision.

What is your fondest memory of the Claremont Institute?

Without a doubt it is the other 12 Sheriffs that I got to meet, spend time with, and exchange ideas with. To this day, we offer each other support and have personal relationships. A very close second was getting to meet and learn from the Claremont Institute instructors.

What do you think will make this fellowship unique and relevant in the years to come?

I think the continued education, especially for Sheriffs, on our Founding Fathers’ principles and adherence to the Constitution. With some of our education system moving away from teaching these foundations, this type of education will be even more relevant in the coming years.

What would you discuss, if you could have a sit-down conversation with Tom Homan, White House Executive Associate Director of Enforcement and Removal Operations?

Nothing against Tom Homan, I fully support his mission, but I would prefer to have that conversation with AG Pam Bondi. I am a Sheriff in Washington state and we have the Keep Washington Working Act, which essentially forbids us from cooperating with federal agents on immigration matters. This is bad law and contrary to our oath to keep our citizens safe.

What would the artifact be, if you could hold one piece of history from the early founding of our country, and why?

 The Gettysburg Address—I think it is very germane to what is going on in America today. While I do not believe we are on the verge of armed conflict, I do think we are very divided and have forgotten that we are all AMERICANS first and must work together for the common good.

What qualities do you believe are necessary for effective leadership?

Genuineness, I think good leaders must be authentic in everything they do and model it every single day.

What do you believe is the greatest challenge currently facing the United States?

The inability to talk and listen to each other. We have become so tribal that we refuse to listen to people with other views and just shout over them. Once we stop listening there is no other option than to fight.

What do you believe has led to our established culture redefining itself in the 21st Century?

That must be the progression of technology, which has been logarithmic and not linear in my lifetime. I grew up on a black and white TV with two dials, and now we have Dick Tracy two-way wrist radios and the Jetsons’ FaceTime ability. Technology is progressing at such a rapid rate that I think we need to step back and really assess what portions are positive and which are negatively impacting our lives.

What book, speech, or movie has left a lasting impression with you, and why? That would be a toss-up between The Shootist and The Patriot. Both convey a message of right and wrong and the cost of adhering to your convictions.

Do you have a favorite quote? Why does it resonate with you?

“Leaders allow their people to fail without being failures.” It allows your people to take some risk without fear of killing their career. I firmly believe risk averse organizations tend to stagnate, but encouraging people to take calculated chances fosters innovation.

What is the most distinctive attribute/character of the people in Walla Walla County, WA you genuinely admire?

Easily their generosity. Walla Walla is a small and primarily rural community, but they are extremely generous and very supportive of their first responders.

What do you believe are the top three law enforcement issues currently facing America?

1. Drugs, and especially fentanyl.
2. Law enforcement staffing levels. Washington ranks 51st out of the 50 states, and Washington, DC and has been last for 14 straight years.
3. Lack of respect for the sanctity of life.

In your opinion is the FBI in need of serious reform? Why?

Haha, YES! As a former Agent and Whistleblower, I can attest that the FBI needs to be reformed from the top down. It also needs to prioritize crime fighting over intelligence gathering. The FBI was never meant to be a domestic spy agency, so everything they do should be geared towards a criminal prosecution.

What do you believe can be done to prioritize hardening soft targets in today’s volatile environment, (i.e., schools)?

I would like to see a nationwide investment in the School Resource Officer program. It lets students have a positive interaction with law enforcement, and it offers a deterrence to school shooters.

What brings you peace of mind at the end of a stressful day?

Seeing the next generation of law enforcement professionals that are dedicated to their profession and to making their communities better and safer.

What would the message be, if you could communicate one thing to politicians and Americans alike about the importance of policing?

We are not the enemy. We need your financial and personal support to do our job and keep our communities safe. We are professionals who strive every day to do the right thing for the right reason all the time for all members of our communities.