WALLACE — The Shoshone County commissioners on Tuesday morning selected Will Eddy as the next leader of the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, following a series of interviews the day before. 

Eddy, 59, beat out Spike Angle and Chris Rice and will serve as sheriff through at least 2026. He is filling the position vacated last month by Holly Lindsey after a hit-and-run incident that remains under investigation. 

“I feel good,” Eddy said of the appointment. “I feel like they made the right choice.” 

Eddy brings nearly three decades of law enforcement experience to the position, but he retired in 2016, following three years at the Pinehurst Police Department.  

The commissioners may have approved Eddy unanimously, but he wasn't the consensus top pick following the interviews. Commissioner Dave Dose recommended Angle for the seat, but Commissioners Jeff Zimmerman and Melissa Cowles both ranked Eddy at the top of their lists. 

During his interview Monday, Eddy said one of his first acts as sheriff, if selected, would be to eliminate the SCSO’s backcountry unit. On Tuesday, he shifted his stance, saying the department’s budgets and jail would be among his primary focuses. He also emphasized his intent to retain as many current staff members as possible, if they wish to stay. 

Eddy said he had been warned about Shoshone County’s reputation for having a “good ol’ boy” mentality before accepting his first position in Silver Valley law enforcement in 2013. He hopes to remove any perception of that during his tenure. 

“I hope to see that end,” Eddy said. “We need to have a change and I think it needs to be happening now. I believe I can make a change over there.” 

All three candidates discussed the need for better community policing during Monday’s interviews, including improved visibility from the sheriff, transparency and fiscal responsibility. 

“Holly was never here,” Eddy said. “We never had the budget problems before and then all of the sudden we do and a lot of that is spending.” 

During Tuesday’s meeting, Zimmerman expressed gratitude to the Shoshone County Democratic Committee for its work and urgency in presenting the board with three qualified candidates. 

“I would like to commend the Shoshone County Democrat Committee for doing their due diligence and finding three qualified candidates to submit to our board,” Zimmerman said. “I know it was a hard job and it’s been a difficult situation, and I appreciate their diligence.” 

Before the meeting, commissioners received a letter from the Silver Valley chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police recommending Angle for the position. 

Eddy said prior to the interview that he will seek formal election to the position during next year’s primary and general elections. 

He will be officially sworn in at noon on Thursday at the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office.