Being in law enforcement is no easy task these days.

Those who serve and protect the rest of us are so frequently under the microscope of the public and media that such scrutiny is considered a normal part of the job.

In Bear Lake County, Sheriff Bart Heslington is no stranger to the rigors of his profession.

But the fact he's running unopposed in this year's election shows a tremendous level of public support for him and his deputies — an accomplishment considering the often critical national climate toward law enforcement.

Heslington joined the Bear Lake County Sheriff's Office as a deputy back in 2010. He was eventually promoted to chief deputy before being elected as sheriff.

"When the former sheriff was retiring, I ran," he said. "That was in 2016, so I took office then."

On some days, work at the Bear Lake Sheriff's Office can involve more administrative routine work. Other days, they have more calls for help from people in the community.

"With the size of our agency, it can become a blend of administrative day to day stuff but also handling whatever calls come through our dispatch center," Heslington said.

The biggest challenge about being the Bear Lake County sheriff is that sometimes the office's resources can be stretched thin. They have a small community in terms of population but the demand for their services is high.

"We're trying to meet the needs of the community with the resources we have," Heslington said.

He said that fulfilling the needs of the community wouldn't be possible without the staff that he works with at the sheriff's office. They work together to get the job done no matter what, he said.

"The challenges of meeting demands is felt by the staff members," Heslington said. "Their commitment is tremendous."

One thing that the sheriff's office focuses on is educating the public about safety around Bear Lake. Heslington said they work to make sure there is always enough safety equipment for everyone who visits the lake.

"We do a lot of public outreach to not only people in the community but to people who are visiting," he said.

Heslington said the most rewarding part about being the sheriff is his involvement in serving the community. He has worked with several different organizations during his time as sheriff.

Heslington has worked with larger agencies such as Southeastern Idaho Public Health and the Idaho Sheriff's Association and more local agencies such as the Chamber of Commerce.

"I've worked with the Chamber of Commerce and other organizations that provide services and viewpoints from different special interest groups within the county," he said.

Heslington said that after this election, he plans to serve the rest of his four-year term. After that, he will evaluate and decide if he wants to continue.

He said he's definitely looking forward to continuing to serve Bear Lake County.