Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans Secures Reelection Defeating Daron Wyatt
Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans has won reelection, defeating Republican challenger Daron Wyatt 7,426-5,670, according to unofficial results.
Having taken over the position following Sheriff Dave O’Malley’s resignation toward the end of 2020, 45-year-old Appelhans subsequently won the 2002 election to become the state’s inaugural African American sheriff. His time in office came after a turbulent era in Albany County that grew out of the fatal 2018 deputy-involved shooting of Robbie Ramirez, an unarmed man. The sheriff’s office hasn’t seen officer-involved shootings under Appelhans.
Candidates Clash over Federal Immigration Detainers
Throughout the recent campaign, Appelhans and Wyatt staked out distinct positions on local law enforcement operations. Both candidates shared common ground in their opposition to the deployment of license-plate reader cameras across Albany County.
Albany County Sheriff Aaron Appelhans has won reelection for the second time, defeating outspoken Republican challenger Daron Wyatt. ICE detainers was a major issue in the campaign, with Appelhans saying he would not honor them.https://t.co/hHsIrsSLyZ
Wyatt planned to honor U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. Appelhans said he would not honor those specific federal requests, characterizing them as administrative rather than court-ordered holds.
A records request submitted by Wyatt to the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office revealed that out of 17 Wyoming jail deaths from 2019 to July of this year, five occurred while individuals were in Albany County custody. In response, Appelhans pointed toward Wyatt’s own historical use-of-force record.
That record includes a 2009 officer-involved shooting involving a man who was reportedly driving a car toward an intersection while reaching for a knife. Following a civil jury trial and an extensive appeals process, Wyatt faced neither criminal culpability nor civil liability for the event.
Reactions to the Unofficial Tally
Appelhans did not immediately respond to a voicemail request for comment placed late Tuesday. He posted that morning to his political Facebook page:
It has been an incredible honor and privilege to serve as your Albany County Sheriff, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to seek re-election. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey.
Wyatt offered reflections on the outcome during a Tuesday phone interview with Cowboy State Daily.
We entered this race putting it in the Lord’s hands, and we knew that if we lost, it wouldn’t be because I didn’t put in the work, but because it’s not in the Lord’s will. He has greater plans for me and for Albany County, and I respect that. Cowboy State Daily
Wyatt added, “I know we maintained our integrity and we ran a clean race, and I can hold my head high.”
