Wednesday, March 4, The Sheridan press published the headline, “All Wyoming sheriffs oppose Second Amendment Protection Act bill, alleging it would have a chilling effect” There’s no doubt that the Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police (WASCOP), a private lobbying organization, rallied law enforcement personnel from around Wyoming against HB0130, Second Amendment Protection Act, Amendments. Much of the testimony given incorrectly characterized the bill. But the bill, WASCOP’s testimony about it or even the bill’s current status or outcome is not the most striking part of The Sheridan Press’ article—it’s the photo published the piece.
Accompanying the article is a photograph of Sgt Nevada Krinkee, the Sheridan Police Officer that was tragically killed February 13, 2024 while serving a trespass warrant on William Lowery. Lowery had a fairly long history of encounters with law enforcement. According to The Sheridan Press’ own reporting, Krinkee’s death had absolutely nothing to do with Wyoming’s SAPA law or currently proposed amendments to it.
The Open Range Record reached out to the editor of The Sheridan Press, Ashleigh Snoozy for an explanation of why the paper chose to publish Krinkee’s photograph in connection with the SAPA article. Our request was not returned by the 12pm deadline set for this report.
Two years after Nevada Krinkee’s death, emotions in Sheridan are still raw. Nothing unites a community more than the needless death of a police officer. Memorial stickers still adorn the windows of downtown shops. The badge with a blue band bearing Krinkee’s name can be found on vehicles across the county—you can see them every day; and the park dedicated to him usually has flowers on the sign. Yes, Sheridan still feels his absence.
The Sheridan Press used Krinkee’s picture to push a political narrative—to use the visceral reaction his picture evokes.
Nevada Krinkee had a family. He had a wife and children. They will never get to know their father and his wife will not grow old with her husband. Using Sgt Krinkee’s picture for politics is wrong and The Sheridan Press should be ashamed of themselves.
The picture they should have used shows Sheridan County Sheriff Levi Dominguez and Sheridan Chief of Police Travis Koltiska testifying against the Second Amendment rights of Wyoming Citizens. They should have reported that the pair are, frankly, ignorant about the SAPA bill. Though I have personally explained the SAPA bill to the Sheriff, he and Koltiska drove to Cheyenne to push a false political narrative. That’s the story The Sheridan Press should have run but instead they chose to use Sheridan County’s loss against them.