Wade A. Harriman was appointed interim Ida County Sheriff on July 6, 1998, by the Ida County Board of Supervisors. The voters of Ida County elected him sheriff in November, 1998 and re-elected him in November, 2000, and again in November, 2004 and November 2008. He serves as Ida County's 20th sheriff.

Sheriff Harriman is a native of New Hartford, Iowa, and a graduate of Dike-New Hartford High School. Following high school Sheriff Harriman spent 5 ½ years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve serving as a member of a field artillery unit. While serving in the Marine Corps, he also attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated in May, 1997,  with a bachelors degree in sociology and history.Sheriff Harriman is also a graduate of the Iowa law Enforcement Academy, and has attended and successfully completed several other law enforcement career classes.

Sheriff Harriman strongly believes that education and training are vital for today's law enforcement officers, and encourages his employees to further their education.

Since becoming sheriff, he has dramatically improved the number of services that his office provides to the citizens of Ida County.

Sheriff Harriman has also implemented several new policies for his department: one of which is the “pay as you stay” policy for the county jail. Sheriff Harriman believes that the jail inmates should pay for their room and board, not the law-abiding taxpayers of Ida County.

In 2002, the communications center was remodeled.

The department is beginning their first Reserve Officer Program. The volunteer based organization will assist the sheriff's office in providing the best possible law enforcement service in a fiscally conservative manner.

In the past 5 years Sheriff Harriman has secured over $100,000 in  state and federal grants for Ida County. This money has been used to improve the equipment used by his officers in the line of duty, and to pay overtime to deputies who have worked on major cases.

Sheriff Harriman believes that it is important to take an active role in the community. He encourages his staff to be active in the communities in which they reside. Harriman is a member of the Holstein United Methodist Church, and serves on the Pastor Parish Committee. He is also a member of the Ida Grove Kiwanis and served as president during 2000-01. He is a member of the Holstein American Legion Post and served as commander from 2001 through 2003. He belongs to the Battle Creek Lions Club, and was president in 2002. He belongs to the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association, and serves on their legislative committee. In 2004, he was elected to their Board of Directors. He is also a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association and Alpine Masonic Lodge #471 in Holstein.

Harriman and his wife, Leah, and sons Cade and Carson, reside in Holstein. Leah is employed as an early childhood special education teacher at the Battle Creek - Ida Grove Elementary School.

Sheriff Harriman is looking forward to continuing his service to the citizens of Ida County. He and his agency are committed to providing professional, proactive law enforcement.