Shawn Wehr was sworn in as Shoshone County’s newest interim sheriff, taking over leadership of the county’s law enforcement operations.

Shoshone County, which covers the Silver Valley communities of Kellogg, Wallace, Osburn, Mullan, and Pinehurst, is one of five counties in the North Idaho region. The sheriff’s office handles law enforcement for the unincorporated areas of the county and provides support to smaller municipal departments.

The interim appointment fills the vacancy until the position is decided in the regular election cycle. Shoshone County voters will have the opportunity to elect a sheriff in the 2026 election, with the primary scheduled for May 19.

In North Idaho’s rural counties, the sheriff’s office often serves as the primary law enforcement presence, and sheriff’s races draw significant attention from local Republican voters who prioritize public safety and constitutional governance.