ABOUT ME
Hi, I'm Evie Cahalen
MY BACKGROUND
I'm a career law enforcement professional with 25+ years of experience, retiring from the Montgomery County Police Department in 2007 as a district commander. I hold a B.S. in Administration of Justice from The American University and a Master's in Management from Johns Hopkins University. I've served as a consultant for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Sheriff's Association, and the U.S. State Department, as well as teaching police management at Pennsylvania State University for over 10 years. I currently serve as a precinct committeewoman on the Flathead County Republican Central Committee and as President of Flathead County Republican Women. I've lived in Montana for over 20 years and officially became a Montana resident in 2013. This state and this county are my home, and I want to see them protected and prospering.
MY VISION
The Flathead County Sheriff's Office should be the premier law enforcement agency in the state. And under my leadership, it will be.
When I am elected Sheriff, I will institute better community policing, build a stronger relationship with the public and other law enforcement agencies in the county, create a countywide crime analysis database, support our great deputies by providing proper training and a fair promotional process, and take proactive measures to ensure that all Flathead County citizens are protected and that our county remains beautiful and safe.
ISSUES
Why I'm Running
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
You deserve to know and trust the law enforcement officers in your area. But when the schedules change and deputies patrol different neighborhoods often, it makes it more difficult to cultivate relationships and trust with the community.
I want to change that. When law enforcement officers have rapport with the community they serve, they can do their job efficiently and proficiently. Under my leadership, deputies will patrol one area consistently and build relationships with the people they serve. I will also implement Neighborhood Watch programs and reinstate the Citizens' Academy so that Flathead County citizens can participate in community policing and help protect their county.
LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY
The deputies in the Sheriff's Office are qualified and professional, but like any other employee, they need support from leadership. Under my leadership, deputies will be provided with quality training and a fair promotional process, in order to provide them with great opportunities to succeed and excel in their profession.
I will also bring accountability and transparency to the Sheriff's Office. As a taxpayer, you deserve to know how your money is spent in the county. I will work with the county commissioners and staff to create a fair and fiscally responsible budget, which will be made available to all citizens of Flathead County.
THE JAIL & LIABILITY
In November of 2025, Flathead County passed the jail bond, promising a new, modern jail to accommodate our needs. But the jail won't be functional for at least 3 years, and during that time, we still have to work with the current jail.
The current jail facility is a liability for Flathead County. The building is old and potentially hazardous, it's overcrowded and understaffed, and the new facility will not be built quickly enough to reduce the risk it poses to the county. When I am sheriff, I will partner with county and state agencies to work to reduce the liability risks associated with the old jail. Your money is better spent improving public safety and not on lawsuits.