Carson City lawman, undersheriff Ken Sandage retires after 29 years

Carson City Sheriff's Office Undersheriff Ken Sandage officially retired Thursday after 29 years of service with the sheriff's office.

Fellow law enforcement officers, administrators and predecessors, both active and retired, sheriff's office staff, city leaders, family and friends of Sandage gathered inside the CCSO administration building to wish him a fond farewell and happy retirement.

"It was an extremely rewarding career. I thank my family and my friends for sticking beside me through the tough, the thick and the thin and I want to thank the men and women of the Carson City Sheriff's Office as they are extremely the best law enforcement officers in state of Nevada by far," said Sandage earlier that morning.

Sandage is a Carson City resident and United States Air Force veteran. He first made application with the Sheriff’s Office in November 1990, and was hired on July 26, 1991.

First assigned to the Detention Division, Sandage completed his initial training and law enforcement certifications, and by the end of January 1993 was transferred to the Patrol Division.

Within several years, he earned a position in the Detectives Division and was later promoted to the grade of Sergeant on Sept. 25, 1998. Within two months of Sheriff Furlong’s first term in office, Sandage was promoted by Furlong to Lieutenant on Feb. 14, 2003.

As a mid-level department manager, Sandage’s career assignments have covered the entire spectrum of the department. He was assigned the responsibilities of Detention Manager in October 2003, and was later moved to Patrol Operations Manager in January 2004.

On Dec. 18, 2009, he was reassigned to manage the Operations Investigations Division. While assigned to the Operations unit, then Lt. Sandage was selected to be the first of the Sheriff’s administrative initiatives to provide advanced training through the FBI National Academy (FBINA) in Quantico, VA, for all mid-level law enforcement managers.

On Sept. 3, 2004, Sandage graduated from the Academy and returned to his position over the Investigations team. Upon completion of the FBINA and with his Nevada Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Executive Certification earned in February 2008, Sandage was re-designated to the grade Captain.

Under the current administration, the designation of Captain is awarded to Lieutenants after having achieved the highest career development trainings, certifications, and successful completion of the FBI National Academy.

Sandage’s role and active participation with the FBI and his fellow FBINA graduates continues to this day, said Furlong.

Sandage then went on to hold the executive administrative position of Assistant Sheriff beginning August 22, 2014. In December 2017 Sandage was named Undersheriff following the retirement of Steve Albertsen.

Ahead of the ceremony, Sheriff Furlong noted Sandage's leadership qualities.

"Over the years, including his prior positions, he has always been there for the leadership role. Kenny has become that expected pillar. I attribute a lot of the expertises with the organization to those things that he has taught over the years. A lot of those successes are owed to him," said Furlong. "He has also been at the forefront of leadership in some of the most horrific things that have happened.

"I cannot appreciate more his foresight and his expertise when these events have occurred and his extraordinary thought processes that focused on how we want to come out of these situations. His legacy will go on in all of the people who he has brought up in the organization and who will be rising to the challenges in the future.

"Retirements such as Kenny's and those before him, open up opportunities for the next person to excel. And I believe Kenny has put me in a very good position to assure we continue to work very strongly in this community and that we are, and are prepared for any challenge that comes in front of us," said Furlong.

In his farewell address Sandage said the following:

I want to thank the Lord Jesus for allowing me to be here today on my retirement. I thank my wife for the support throughout my career. I could not have accomplished my career without her.

I thank my daughters and granddaughter for the understanding, missed birthdays, soccer games and school functions and finding our pet dog Tiger while working a homicide.

Sheriff Furlong, you are truly the best boss ever. Your commitment to the organization and community is beyond reproach. For 17 years you and I have been shoulder to shoulder on some of the most horrible and gruesome crime scenes and always agreed on the best course of action from our finest. I have never met a man more devoted to success such as you.

The men and women on the sheriff's department are the best damn officers in the state. Proven by devotion and one of the lowest crime rates recorded in 17 years. Thank you. I would be first in a door with any of you at my six.

It comes a time when you're ready for retirement. That time is now. I will miss you guys and others that have served this department.

Stay strong, keep your values in check and be proud to be a member of the finest law enforcement agency.

A replacement for undersheriff will be named at a later date.