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Sacramento County Sheriff says he will not seek 3rd term
Sheriff Scott Jones made announcement via internal memo
Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said Friday he will not run for re-election in 2018.Jones sent an interdepartmental memo to all department personnel, saying he will not seek a third term."Working for the Sheriff's Department, especially for the last seven years as Sheriff, is the privilege of a lifetime," Jones said in his statement. "I have been honored to be able to develop my vision for the Department, and part of that responsibility must be for me to step aside and allow someone else's vision to continue our upward trajectory."Jones was elected as sheriff in 2010 and then re-elected in 2014.During his tenure as sheriff, Jones started a Youth Services Unit, established the Community Relations Unit and created a multi-jurisdictional Impact Division.Jones ran for Congress in 2016, but lost to incumbent Rep. Ami Bera.The sheriff's department faced two high-profile legal battles in 2016, forcing Jones into the spotlight as he campaigned for Congress.In May, a jury awarded one former and three current sheriff's deputies a multimillion-dollar judgment in a sexual discrimination lawsuit against the department.Neither the sheriff nor any member of the sheriff's department were named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Jones didn't get into the merits of the case but said in May 2016 no complaints were made to him."I'm unaware and would dispute any claims of gender or any other type of retaliation going on in the department," he said then.Then in July 2016, a deputy filed a sexual harassment claim against Jones. The allegations, which stemmed from 13-year-old incidents, were in a 1,500-page lawsuit filed against the sheriff's department. Jones was a sergeant at the time of the alleged misconduct."During my over 27-year career I have never been the subject of any Internal Affairs, Sexual Harassment, or any other internal complaint of misconduct," Jones said in July 2016.Jones also faced criticism this year after holding a controversial forum on immigration, during which he invited Thomas Homan, acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as a special guest.He said before the forum that, like many California sheriffs, he does allow ICE agents full access to the county jail."The best way to keep widespread nets from being cast in our communities is to allow us to cooperate in our jails -- to protect the community from the worst of the worst," Jones said in May.In his announcement Friday, Jones said violent crime in the area is down by more than 10 percent and the department's public satisfaction rating is above 80 percent. He also said the sheriff's department has proven to be fiscally responsible "year after year" and gave back more than $500,000 to the county.Jones also said in his statement that he does not plan to leave early and will remain at the department after the election.Jones also hinted in the statement that he has chosen a person to support in the 2018 sheriff election."I have every confidence that the individual I have chosen to support within our organization has the experience, skills and dedication necessary to (continue our upward trajectory)," he wrote.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KCRA) —
Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said Friday he will not run for re-election in 2018.
Jones sent an interdepartmental memo to all department personnel, saying he will not seek a third term.
"Working for the Sheriff's Department, especially for the last seven years as Sheriff, is the privilege of a lifetime," Jones said in his statement. "I have been honored to be able to develop my vision for the Department, and part of that responsibility must be for me to step aside and allow someone else's vision to continue our upward trajectory."
Jones was elected as sheriff in 2010 and then re-elected in 2014.
During his tenure as sheriff, Jones started a Youth Services Unit, established the Community Relations Unit and created a multi-jurisdictional Impact Division.
Jones ran for Congress in 2016, but lost to incumbent Rep. Ami Bera.
The sheriff's department faced two high-profile legal battles in 2016, forcing Jones into the spotlight as he campaigned for Congress.
In May, a jury awarded one former and three current sheriff's deputies a multimillion-dollar judgment in a sexual discrimination lawsuit against the department.
Neither the sheriff nor any member of the sheriff's department were named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Jones didn't get into the merits of the case but said in May 2016 no complaints were made to him.
"I'm unaware and would dispute any claims of gender or any other type of retaliation going on in the department," he said then.
Then in July 2016, a deputy filed a sexual harassment claim against Jones. The allegations, which stemmed from 13-year-old incidents, were in a 1,500-page lawsuit filed against the sheriff's department. Jones was a sergeant at the time of the alleged misconduct.
"During my over 27-year career I have never been the subject of any Internal Affairs, Sexual Harassment, or any other internal complaint of misconduct," Jones said in July 2016.
Jones also faced criticism this year after holding a controversial forum on immigration, during which he invited Thomas Homan, acting director of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as a special guest.
He said before the forum that, like many California sheriffs, he does allow ICE agents full access to the county jail.
"The best way to keep widespread nets from being cast in our communities is to allow us to cooperate in our jails -- to protect the community from the worst of the worst," Jones said in May.
In his announcement Friday, Jones said violent crime in the area is down by more than 10 percent and the department's public satisfaction rating is above 80 percent. He also said the sheriff's department has proven to be fiscally responsible "year after year" and gave back more than $500,000 to the county.
Jones also said in his statement that he does not plan to leave early and will remain at the department after the election.
Jones also hinted in the statement that he has chosen a person to support in the 2018 sheriff election.
"I have every confidence that the individual I have chosen to support within our organization has the experience, skills and dedication necessary to (continue our upward trajectory)," he wrote.