Edwards new WCSO Chief Deputy

Emergency Management Coordinator Sam Edwards has been named Washington County Chief Deputy.

 Edwards, 50, was a county patrol sergeant before being named the Emergency Management Coordinator in 2022. He replaced long-time coordinator Tony Buthman who retired in July 2022.

 “He’s been here for about 25 years,” Washington County Sheriff Matt Thomas said of Edwards last week. 

 “It’s his opportunity to sit in that chair. He’s earned that right to have that opportunity.”

 Edwards replaces former Chief Deputy Brady Johnston who recently resigned.

 “Brady had an opportunity down in the Boise Valley, a position he couldn’t pass up,” Thomas said. “He is going to move on to that adventure, and we had to fill that chief deputy spot.”

 Thomas added that the WCSO now must fill the vacant emergency management position.

 “We are taking applications right now and we have a few that we will interview in a couple weeks and pick the best one,” he said. “There are still a few people that I’ve heard are going to put in applications and we are waiting on that, until we get everything in order before we do interviews.”

 Edwards joined the U.S. Army following graduation from Baker High School in 1990. He transitioned to the Oregon National Guard following active duty. In total, he spent 18 years in the military. While serving in the National Guard, he joined the Weiser Police Department as a reserve officer and became a firefighter with the Weiser Area Rural Fire District.