Joel Fish Resigning as Wallowa County Sheriff

By Joe Hathaway on Friday, October 13th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

ENTERPRISE — Joel Fish will no longer be Sheriff of Wallowa County.

Sheriff Fish submitted his resignation this week, effective Jan. 1, 2024.

In an email to Elkhorn Media Group, Fish said his reason is to be closer to his mother in North Carolina, given her health status and “other family matters that have risen that necessitate us being there for them.”

“I feel that I have no choice but to return for family reasons.”

Fish previously served as chief of the Enterprise Police Department before his election in 2020 as sheriff.

In his email, Sheriff Fish wrote, “This was a difficult decision to make. I love being Sheriff of Wallowa County, and I am grateful that the citizens chose me to serve them. It is so hard to go. I will truly miss the people of Wallowa County.

Fish said he will recommend to Wallowa County Commissioners that it appoint Sgt. Ryan Moody to complete his term, which expires in 2024. The sheriff said Moody has already filed for the election.