Former Deschutes County Sheriff Les Stiles has died
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Les Stiles, who served as Deschutes County's sheriff from 2001-07, has passed away, the sheriff's office announced Friday.
"It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we share with you the passing of retired Sheriff Les Stiles," the agency's Facebook posting stated, which read in full:
"Sheriff Stiles was elected as the seventh sheriff of Deschutes County and served from 2001 to 2007. He championed and oversaw the implementation of stable funding, with the hard work of Sheriff Larry Blanton (at the time serving as undersheriff), the command staff and teammates at the Sheriff’s Office.
"He oversaw the accreditation of our office (the second Sheriff’s Office in the state to do so at the time), started the Shop with a Cop program, and founded the Sheriff’s Office Central Oregon Partnerships for Youth program (mentoring of children with incarcerated parents) with his wife Carol. His service had a significant positive impact on the future of our office and service to our community.
"Sheriff Stiles was a military veteran, having served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army. He served in law enforcement beginning with the Northglenn Police Department in Colorado, as the Chief of the Moab, Utah Police Department, and as a Lieutenant with the Bend Police Department prior to serving as Sheriff.
"Additionally, while with the Bend Police Department, he taught law enforcement classes at the Central Oregon Community College for 17 years and owned a fly-fishing guide service as he was an avid fly fisherman. After retirement, he owned his own consulting business Legacy Leadership, and later served as the Prineville Police Chief. He also taught leadership classes in the Concordia MBA program.
