MEET CHRIS NORRIS
Service
Chris Norris has been dedicated to public service from a very young age. He began his law enforcement career at age 15 as a Law Enforcement Explorer/Cadet with his local police department. A few years later, he joined the Cascade County Sheriff’s Office as an Adult Corrections and Detention Officer.
After serving the citizens of Cascade County for nearly six years, Norris transitioned to the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office as a sworn Deputy. He has excelled in that role there for over eight years, contributing to several special teams and committees. Currently, Norris serves as a DARE instructor and School Resource Officer, working directly with students and the community to promote safety and positive engagement.
Family
Chris Norris has been blessed to share the last 13 years of marriage with his incredible wife, Jennifer. They are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Zoey and Madison. Watching them grow over the years has deepened Norris's commitment to creating a safer community where families can thrive and children are protected.
Their home is a place where faith, love, and service are daily practices. As a husband and father, Norris carries those same principles into his work with the belief that strong families form the foundation of a strong community.
Community
Chris Norris is actively involved in his community as a basketball coach, soccer referee, and youth ministry leader.
Since 2018, he has served as Vice-President and President of the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Employee Association. Norris is also the current President and a founding member of the Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Community Foundation, in addition to proudly serving as Vice-Chair of the Lewis and Clark County DUI Task Force.
ENDORSED
East Helena Police Chief Mike Sanders (Ret.)
"I have had the pleasure of working with Chris Norris for the past few years as law
enforcement colleagues. I recently retired as the Chief of Police in East Helena after
serving four years in that position and have over 30 years of law enforcement
experience, most of them serving in leadership positions in the Drug Enforcement
Administration and the East Helena Police Department. I have had the opportunity to
work with some of the finest law enforcement leaders in the United States and
internationally.
I support Chris Norris for Sheriff/Coroner because he has a high degree of integrity and
professionalism, believes in accountability, and has a deep desire to serve the citizens
of Lewis and Clark County. Chris genuinely believes that law enforcement officials
should be held to a higher standard and he lives his life according to that principle.
Chris profoundly cares for his family and has strong values. He is involved in all aspects
of his family’s life and although he is extremely busy with family and work commitments,
he still finds time to volunteer to coach and referee sports in the Helena area.
Chris currently serves as President of the Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Employee
Association and President of the Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Community Foundation.
Being elected President of these organizations clearly shows that his peers in the
Sheriff’s Office have a high degree of respect for Chris and confidence in his leadership.
One of Chris’ priorities is to address the jail staffing crisis, which has placed an immense
strain on both staff and inmates. The current procedures used by the Sheriff’s Office are
not working and his fresh ideas are needed to increase jail staffing to a safe and
sustainable level.
Chris is committed to school safety, and being proactive in identifying and implementing
proven safety measures is a top priority of his. The tragedies occurring in schools
around the country is frightening and Chris sees the need to place more emphasis on
making schools safer for our children.
Chris is also dedicated to building strong partnerships with law enforcement agencies
operating within Lewis and Clark County. He champions multiple law enforcement
agencies training together to ensure they are on the same page and prepared for all
emergency situations at schools. Nurturing positive relationships with law enforcement
partners is crucial to working effectively and efficiently in stressful and dangerous
environments and provides the most collaborative and comprehensive public safety
services possible to our community.
The Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office requires change and now is the time for
that transformation with Chris’s original ideas and positive energy. Chris is a well-
respected law enforcement leader and is the best person to guide the Lewis and Clark
County Sheriff’s Office forward in a progressive manner.
I am confident Chris will make the necessary changes to better serve the citizens of Lewis and Clark County. I
encourage everyone to vote for Chris Norris for Lewis and Clark County Sheriff/Coroner,
as providing top-notch service to our community is his top priority."
Mike Sanders
Retired Law Enforcement Leader and Administrator