Sheriff Gary Raney

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Gary Raney retired from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office in Boise (ID) after serving for more than 30 years, the last 10 as the elected sheriff. He became nationally known for his innovative ideas, establishing model practices for data-driven decisions, and creating an organizational culture with one of the lowest rates of force and one of the highest rates of employee satisfaction. Since retiring in 2015, Gary’s “second career” has flourished as an expert witness and consultant, having worked on projects in over 40 states.

Gary earned a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s degree from Boise State University. He graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff & Command, the FBI National Academy, and the National Executive Institute, a prestigious international law enforcement leadership consortium. He has been an adjunct professor for Boise State University and Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety.  He remains active in learning and helping others learn through his involvement in the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, the American Jail Association, the Police Executive Research Forum and various ad hoc groups focused on improving criminal justice processes and outcomes.

Gary’s ideas and practices have been recognized by many, including the U.S. Attorney General, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the US Congress.  

Some of his personal and professional accomplishments include:

  • US Attorney General appointment, then elected vice-chair, of the board of the National Institute of Corrections - the federal agency that guides best practices for jails and prisons

  • Consultant on behalf of the US Department of Justice, assessing and recommending practice and process improvements in criminal justice organizations

  • Governor appointment to chair the Peace Officers Standards & Training (POST) Council

  • Governor appointment, then elected vice-chair, of the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission

  • Chair of the Idaho Criminal Justice Grants Council

  • President of the Idaho Sheriffs' Association

  • Chair of the Ada County Critical Incident Task Force

  • Idaho Association of Counties Leadership Award

  • Board member for the Intermountain Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory

  • Board member of Family Justice Center

  • Board member of the Ada County Mental Health Court

  • Board member of the Ada County Drug Court

  • Member of the Boise State University think-tank on organizational innovation

  • National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts’ Response to Mental Illness

Gary is honored to have been asked to present to many government and other organizations on effective leadership and best practices.  Some of those include:

  • United States Congress

  • NASA Launch Services Program Leadership Retreat

  • Police Executive Research Forum

  • National Sheriffs' Association

  • American Jail Association

  • American Correctional Association

  • National Center for the State Courts

  • Several state sheriffs’ associations across the United States

  • The Los Angeles Citizen’s Commission on the Reduction of Jail Violence

  • Community Resources for Justice

  • Human Rights Watch

  • American College of Correctional Physicians