Ross Canen
Republican · MT · Sheriff, Dawson County, Montana
Ross Canen is the Dawson County Sheriff and has worked in county law enforcement for 35 years. Canen's priorities are fighting drug crime and supporting and keeping deputies while managing the office budget.
Where Ross Canen stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record)
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 support
Met with Richey town leaders to set up a paid law enforcement deal for the town. The county commission approved the agreement unanimously on 2024-12-03.
December 3, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: rangerreview.com
Track record — General
General · 8 records
Received the endorsement of former Glendive police chief Ed Williamson, who hired him as a patrolman in 1993, for re-election as sheriff in 2026.
May 21, 2026
Source: rangerreview.com
Received the endorsement of former Dawson County Sheriff and retired U.S. Marshal Craig J. Anderson for re-election as sheriff in 2026.
May 18, 2026
Source: rangerreview.com
His sheriff's office hosted Montana's first statewide jail commanders conference in Glendive on April 14-15, 2026, with more than 30 people attending.
April 15, 2026
Source: rangerreview.com
Resigned in August 2025 from the Montana Criminal Justice Oversight Council, where he had been the sheriffs' member appointed by the Attorney General.
September 17, 2025
Source: archive.legmt.gov
Published a letter saying a Jon Tester campaign ad wrongly claimed Tester got money for Dawson County law enforcement. He said the money was a routine federal land payment to the county general fund.
October 28, 2024
Source: rangerreview.com
As sheriff, publicly named a man his office believed killed Dexter Stefonek at the Bad Route rest area in 1985. He closed the case without charges, citing weak evidence.
January 19, 2024
Source: rangerreview.com
As sheriff, asked Glendive city leaders on 2023-06-14 to renegotiate a 1996 deal for sharing the law enforcement center, which had no end date. He said he wanted a fairer split.
June 14, 2023
Source: rangerreview.com
Received the endorsement of Teamsters Local 190 in his 2014 run for Dawson County Sheriff, while serving as undersheriff.
October 16, 2014
Source: teamster.org
Past race Ross Canen ran in:
- Sheriff · November 3, 2026 · Dawson County, Montana · incumbent