Schuette to be chief deputy

A veteran of the Carson City Sheriff's Department will be appointed chief deputy of operations by the sheriff-elect when Ken Furlong takes office Jan. 6.

Furlong announced Tuesday that Sgt. Steve Schuette, a 22-year-veteran of the force, will fill one of two appointments for chief deputy.

Furlong said he expects to announce his other selection before Jan. 6

"Sgt. Schuette's career has been exemplary. I have the fullest confidence that he will lead and really join in with the entire staff in the department," Furlong said during a small ceremony to release the information to the community and the department.

Schuette, 49, whose wife, Lisa, is a teacher at Carson Middle School, moved to Carson City in 1978 from Los Angeles. He began his law enforcement career as a reserve deputy in 1980 before joining the department full time in 1981.

From patrol, Schuette moved to the detective division, where he remained until 1989, when he was promoted to the rank of sergeant of patrol. In April of this year, Schuette was reassigned to the detective division.

Schuette agrees with Furlong's goal of unifying a department that in recent years has been plagued by bad publicity.

"This department needs unity and it needs to be for the community," he said.

Furlong said he chose Schuette from a handful of qualified candidates.

"I chose him for his leadership capabilities. He has across-the-board respect not only as a sergeant, but as a person," he said.