New deputy sworn in at Hill County Sheriff's Office

Hill County Sheriff's Office has hired Katherine Lewis as a new deputy.

A former Hill County Detention Center detention officer, Lewis said she always wanted to be in law enforcement and, although she is new to the team, she is excited to get involved with the community.

"I have a lot of experiences for being young and so I think that's something that I am excited to bring," she said. "I'm just excited to learn and be working this job."

Lewis said she lived in Sandpoint, Idaho, most of her life, graduating from Sandpoint High School. After graduating from high school she attended and graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in human resources. She added that after she graduated from college she moved to Havre to work at the detention center in June of this year.

She had some connection with Havre - her great aunt had lived in Havre when her father and his siblings and aunts were young, she said, but moved away years ago - and she saw Havre as an opportunity to have new experiences and learn.

She said she got the job at the detention center knowing that she wanted to eventually become a deputy, and once a position was open she applied and was hired in September.

Law enforcement was something she always knew she wanted to do with her life, she said.

"It's something that I've always wanted to do, honestly, as long as I can remember," she said. "There is not one certain thing that had sparked the interest, I've always just had it.

Lewis said that she has always admired law enforcement. She added that in her hometown of Sandpoint, which was about the same size of Havre, she knew the police and sheriff's deputies and grew up knowing that if she was ever in trouble or need help they were who she could turn to if needed. 

"I think that was part of the reason I wanted to get into it," she said.

She said she is excited to start meeting members of the community and talk with people.

"I'm just a very open person," she said. "If you come up and talk to me I'll talk right back. I'm open and I enjoy meeting new people and talking with new people."

She started at the sheriff's office Sept. 30, she said, and so far her favorite thing about the job is being around the other deputies and hearing their experiences, passing their knowledge of the job to her.