SMETHPORT — McKean County Sheriff Daniel Woods has announced his intention to run for re-election.
Woods, a Republican, was sworn in as sheriff in January 2016.
A Kane native, Woods graduated from Kane High School in 1983. He worked briefly for Thompson Floor Covering in Kane before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in February of 1985. In the Air Force, he was an aircraft mechanic and supervisor of a unit responsible for the care and maintenance of the KC-10. He served in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm in 1991, receiving the Kuwait Liberation Medal. In October of 1994, he was honorably discharged.
Following his military service, Woods and his wife, Kimberley Morey Woods, and their two daughters moved to Smethport, where they currently reside. In March of 1995, he began working as a police communications operator for the Pennsylvania State Police in Mount Jewett. In January 1999, he entered the state police academy to become a trooper. Upon graduation, he was assigned to the Waynesburg barracks in Greene County. In October of 2000, he transferred back to the Kane station, where he worked in both the patrol unit and criminal investigation unit.
In 2004, he was named the Pennsylvania State Police Troop C Trooper of the Year.
During his time with the state police, Woods received training in the following: Critical incident dispatching, on scene collision investigation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration Child Passenger Safety Seat Training, Interview and interrogation techniques training, Field training Officer, National Incident Management training, Background investigation training and Active shooter training.
He retired from the state police on Oct. 10, 2014, with an honorable discharge.
“Aside from my career background, I also possess many qualities that are essential to being the sheriff,” Woods said. “I am an honest and trustworthy person, who values family and community.”
He and his wife have been married for more than 35 years, and he is a grandfather to one-year-old twins.
“I possess an even temperament and have had a great deal of experience making detailed decisions in difficult situations,” Woods said. “Lastly, but certainly not least, I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment.”
He started work as a field deputy with the sheriff’s department on Oct. 13, 2014.
Woods said that since he became sheriff in 2016, with the hard work of his office, police departments in the county, the courts, probation department and the district attorney’s office, bench warrants have been reduced by approximately 65%.
Applications for pistol permits are being accepted online, with less waiting time. Programs including the NRA’s Eddie Eagle and child safety checks continue, and updates and improvements have been made at the county jail.
Woods said, “I would like to thank everyone for their continued support and I look forward to continuing to work for the citizens of McKean County.”
