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February 20-27, 2021After more than four decades of public service in the mili-tary and in law enforcement, Park County Undersheriff Tom Ehlers has retired.

Ehlers served with the sher-iff’s office for 27 years, beginning as a detention deputy in the jail, then becom-ing a patrol deputy and a sergeant.

When Scott Stew-ard became sheriff in 2005, he soon tabbed Ehlers as his second-in-command.

“I needed someone that had integrity, knew the job, and above all would be honest and give it to me straight no mat-ter what,” Steward said in a statement, “and there was one man that fit that de-scription: Thomas C. Ehlers, Jr.”

Ehlers took an in-terest in law en-forcement early in his career, studying criminal justice at the University of Nebraska and then joining the City of Lincoln, Nebraska, Police Department as an officer in 1981. All the while, he served in the Ne-braska National Guard, where his primary duty was as military police.

Policing in Lincoln, with a population of more than 190,000 people, “was no small task,” the sheriff’s office said in a tribute to Ehlers. His roles with the Lin-coln department included serv-ing as a field training officer and as a narcotics investigator.

“The training and experience garnered from this time are what molded him into the ex-emplary officer he is today,” the

sheriff’s office wrote.In 1992, Ehlers moved to

Cody and was hired by the U.S. Forest Service for the summer as a compliance officer. When that temporary position came to

an end, he took a job with the State of Wyo-ming in its Probation and Parole Division. However, he also kept in touch with the Park County Sheriff’s Office — even apply-ing to be a dispatcher — “as even then he knew this is where he wanted to be,” the tribute says.

Ultimately, Ehler was hired by then-Sheriff Bill Brewer in 1993.

He took on various roles and duties at the sheriff’s office; for instance, Ehlers’ colleagues said he stepped in to help dis-patchers whenever the need arose.

“He has estab-lished himself as an exceptional under-sheriff who could be counted on no matter the circumstance,” Steward said. “We will definitely miss him.”

He called Ehlers “the best wingman I could have ever asked for” and “a true friend and brother.”

In a testament to the relation-ships he built over the decades of public service, the news of Ehlers’ retirement drew more than 600 “likes” and “loves” on Facebook, along with more than 150 well wishes.

While Undersheriff Ehlers has retired from the depart-ment, his son, Jed Ehlers, con-tinues to serve as a deputy and investigator.

Park County Sheriff Scott Steward started the New Year by naming a new undersheriff, promoting Sgt. Andy Varian to the position.

Varian replaces longtime Undersheriff Tom Ehlers, who retired from the department in December.

Varian joined the sheriff’s office as a detention deputy in October 2011. He moved to the patrol division in May 2013 and became a ser-geant in 2019. With this month’s promotion, Varian is now second-in-command at the department.

“My goals are to continue to fos-ter the culture of professionalism within the depart-ment and main-tain partnership with the community,” he said in a statement. “I ultimately intend to keep the peace and to promote the mindset of public service.”

Varian said he plans to con-tinuously evaluate the depart-ment’s gear and both maintain and further develop training standards “that best prepare deputies and dispatchers for the mental and physical challenges of the job.”

“Law enforcement service across the country appears to be getting more difficult rather

than easier,” he said. “An em-phasis on training will help Sheriff’s Office personnel stay sharp, have an active mindset, and be experienced to deal with the challenges of a growing community.”

Varian began his law enforce-ment career with the Ripon, California, Police Department’s traffic safety section, where he

assisted with traf-fic safety grants, traffic studies and other administra-tive tasks. While visiting family in the Cody area, he and his wife, JoEllen, decided they wanted to call Park County home. They live in Cody with their four children.

Sheriff Steward said, in his new role as undersher-iff, Varian will

not only ensure quality service from the deputies and dispatch-ers he supervises, but will mo-tivate and lead the department with pride and professionalism while commanding its respect. A couple of Varian colleagues congratulated him on the pro-motion when the news was posted to the department’s Facebook page.

“He’s an excellent example of a fine officer and leader,” wrote Bill Brown, the coordina-tor of Park County Search and Rescue.

New undersheriff named for Park County

‘My goals are to continue to foster the culture of professionalism within the department and maintain partnership with the community.’

Andy VarianUndersheriff

Concluding long run of public service, undersheriff retires

TOM EHLERS

Prior to joining the Park County Sheriff’s Office, Tom Ehlers served with the Lincoln, Nebraska, Police Department.Courtesy photo

Park County Undersheriff Andy Varian of Cody poses for a photo alongside his wife, JoEllen, two of his children and Sheriff Scott Steward after his recent promotion. Varian, who had been serving as a sergeant, replaces longtime Undersheriff Tom Ehlers.Photo courtesy Park County Sheriff’s Office