"I do not want your vote for a change...I want your vote to make a difference" Steve Kendley
Steve Kendley is a Lake County Deputy Sheriff, working full time for the Sheriff's Office as a Domestic Violence Detective.
Steve Kendley has lived and paid taxes in Lake County for over 30 years.
Steve and his wife Mary have been married for over 25 years. Their daughter is a student in the Polson School District
While attending the University of Montana, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve and was accepted into Officer Candidate School (OCS). While attending OCS at Quantico VA., Steve suffered from a leg injury which ended his career. He was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Montana.
In 1978 Steve and his family purchased a cherry orchard in Lake County. A few years later they planted a Christmas tree farm here, which they successfully ran for many years. Steve knows the value of a hard day’s work. Years of managing and operating these and other flourishing business gave Steve the opportunity to work with teams of diverse people and bestowed upon Steve a wide variety of life experiences.
He became a quality assurance inspector for a local defense contractor, which led to a dual position with that contractor as a "source inspector". This position required Steve to make important decisions, traveling the United States, evaluating subcontractors and potential resources the contractor would use on U.S. military contracts.
In 1999, Steve was hired by the 20th Judicial District, Youth Court Services as a Juvenile Probation Officer. The Youth Court position was later assumed by the Montana Supreme Court, where Steve remained employed, working with 100’s of youths throughout Lake and Sanders Counties. During this time Steve continued to serve as a Lake County Reserve Deputy.
In 2005, and at the age of 47, Steve decided it was time for a change. He applied to, was accepted, and paid his own way through the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. He successfully completed the rigorous and demanding training. While attending the academy, Steve was hired by the Polson Police Department. During his tenure at Polson Police, he worked patrol shifts for a year and a half.
In 2006 Steve was offered the opportunity to work for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. He was assigned to the Arlee, Charlo, and St. Ignatius School Districts as School Resource Officer and continued to work patrol shifts in the summer months. Steve stayed in that position until promoted to Detective in April of 2009.
Since becoming a Law Enforcement Officer, Steve has obtained multiple certificates from the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Specifically he holds a Basic POST (Police Officers Standards and Training) Certificate, Intermediate POST Certificate, and has recently earned his Advanced POST Certificate. In addition, Steve possesses a Primary POST Instructor Certificate and Primary S.W.A.T. Certificate. Steve has been a Lake County Reserve Coordinator for the Sheriff’s reserve deputy team. He is also appointed as one of three team leaders for the Lake County Special Response Team, serving as the Observer/Sniper Team Leader since his graduation from the FBI Basic Observer/Sniper course in 2007.
Steve enjoys working for the citizens of Lake County and sees a different vision for this powerful office – one where it is recognized that the Office of Sheriff is in fact the Citizens last and best protection from abuses that may be assaulting them from the very sources they should be able to trust!
“I do not want your vote for a change…. I want your vote to make a difference.”
Steve Kendley for Lake County Sheriff
PO Box 1533
Polson, MT, 59860
Richard Bachmeier, Treasurer
