The Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office has temporarily increased its staff with the addition of 10-year-old Nathan Betts, who has been tapped as “Little Sheriff for a Day.”
The Umatilla County Sheriff’s office has partnered with the Walla Walla area Crime Watch Unit in support of the Little Chief/Sheriff bi-annual program. This program is about supporting area youth with special needs, and providing a day of activities, leading up to National Night Out, scheduled for Aug. 7.
In late May, 2018, Nathan Betts of Adams was selected for the honor from nominations provided to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office.
“Once we select our Little Sheriff, we contact our uniform vender and have them put a uniform together that matches my uniform; everything about it is an authentic Sheriff’s Office uniform,” said Sheriff Terry Rowan. “Our vendor picks up the expense of the uniform.”
The Little Sheriff/Chief for a day program will officially kick off today when Rowan and Nathan will travel to Walla Walla for a number of activities including pictures in the park, a ride to the Walla Walla Police Department where Little Sheriff Betts and other Little Sheriffs and Chiefs will gather for group photos. Other activities include going to the Walla Walla Fire Department training facility for a tour and water spraying, then concludes with lunch at Smith’s Family Restaurant in Walla Walla.
Sheriffs Rowan and Betts will then return to the Sheriff’s Office in Pendleton for tours of the Sheriff’s Office operations.
Nathan has already taken part in some Little Sheriff duties such as riding with Rowan at Pendleton’s Fourth of July parade.
“We had a lot of fun handing out candy and ‘junior Sheriff’ sticker badges” said Rowan. “I appreciated Nathan’s parents, Andy and Angela Betts, for allowing Nathan to participate.”
The first year the Sheriff’s Office participated in the Little Sheriff program. Athena resident Clay Thornton was appointed that year.
“I think this is a very special program for some very special kids,” said Rowan. “I look forward to this year’s program, and am committed to repeating this in the future years.”
