George Kynett filed for the Cascade County sheriff’s race on Thursday.

Kynett has spent more than 28 years in law enforcement and said he has a “pretty good understanding of the community and how to protect it.”

He said he wanted to run to find ways to make the community better, with a particular focus on addictions.

If elected, Kynett said he wanted to bring back the reserve deputy program and the explorers program.

He’s currently working as a compliance officer at the Great Falls Pre-Release Center and is a 2007 graduate of the Basic Detention course at the Montana Law Enforcement Academy.

If elected, Kynett said he wants to develop more front line supervisor training and other professional development training programs. He said employee relations have been strained for some time and if elected, he wants to improve those relations.

“I’m really looking forward to doing this job,” he said.

Kynett’s son Michael Kynett is serving as his campaign treasurer and his daughter Christy Mason is his campaign manager. He’s talked to a few people about the undersheriff role, but said he’s not making any announcements yet.

In 1981, Kynett started as a member of the Mountain Patrol Search and Rescue, which later led to riding with the sheriff’s office. Kynett then saw a need for a reserve deputy force and started the program in 1987 along with other members of search and rescue, which eventually evolved to 25 reserve deputies being hired on the force.

During his 20 years as a reserve deputy, Kynett served as detention officer, inmate transfer, court bailiff, investigations, civil process server and private security. He also spent time as a scuba diver and on riverboat patrol. Working with detectives, he also revisited many cold case files from Cascade County, according to Kynett.

He also worked with CCSO and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to create the Minor In Possession Program, working to keep alcohol and drugs out of the hands of the counties’ youth. Kynett also worked with the adult and veterans drug treatment court.

Kynett also worked at Ryan’s Warehouse for more than 22 years serving as warehouse supervisor, transportation manager and maintenance supervisor.

Kynett served as the safety committee chairman at both the warehouse and the sheriff’s office, ensuring safe work practices for all employees.

In 2006, Kynett started full-time as detention transport officer, transporting inmates to court appearances, prisons and various medical appointments.

Since then, Kynett has worked with the Meals on Wheels program and a local compliance monitoring company to ensure individuals abide by court-ordered monitoring of drugs and alcohol.

Bob Rosipal and Jesse Slaughter have already filed for the sheriff’s race. Incumbent Bob Edwards is scheduled to hold an event Saturday to announce his intentions for the election.

GFPD officer running for sheriff

 Rosipal files to run for Cascade County sheriff