Laramie County Sheriff

Kozak will square off against independent candidate Jeff Barnes and Democrat Jess Fresquez on November 8.

Barnes is running as an independent.

Barth's departure from the race leaves at least three announced Republican candidates for sheriff, as well as one Democrat.

Besides Barth and Kozak, Lt. Don Hollingshead and Boyd Wrede are also running for sheriff.

Wrede joins Brian Kozak, Don Hollingshead, James Barth, and Patrick Long in the race for sheriff.

Brian Kozak says the auto theft rate in Laramie County doubled after the Laramie County jail changed its booking policy for property crimes.

Kozak said "You people out there, the citizens, you're getting ripped off. You're getting your cars stolen, your catalytic converters cut off. And it's happening in epidemic proportions."

Kozak says of his campaign ''Many law enforcement agencies fail because their leaders forget their mission and place politics before public safety. ''

Kozak joins a field of declared candidates that already includes long-time Sheriff's Office stalwart Don Hollingshead, as well as Patrick Long and James Barth.

Capt. Don Hollingshead announced his candidacy for sheriff shortly after current Sheriff Danny Glick announced plans to retire at the end of his current term.

The sheriff's office says its ability to respond is still being hampered by the after-effects of this past weekend's storm.