SAN DIEGO—The Board of Supervisors unanimously chose Anthony Ray on March 22 to serve as the interim sheriff of San Diego County.
Ray, an assistant county sheriff who oversees courts and human resources, will fill the role previously held by Bill Gore, who stepped down last month after serving a dozen years in the position. The 74-year-old Gore announced last summer that he would not seek re-election this year.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to be appointed as the interim sheriff of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and am grateful to the Board of Supervisors for affording me this opportunity to lead our department,” Ray said. “I will continue to serve our communities, expand our partnerships with local advocacy groups, continue the improvements to our jails and keep public safety at the forefront of our daily operations.”
Ray will serve until the winner of the November election takes over. Before formally assuming the interim sheriff’s post, he will have to undergo a background check.
“I believe I’m uniquely qualified to the job, as I’m already inside the department,” Ray said in an opening statement to the board, which made its decision after an hour-long forum that included asking candidates questions and hearing from the public.
Ray said his goals include improving recruitment, striving for more accountability, and expanding community engagement. While 9 to 10 months is not a long time to serve as interim sheriff, “I think I can drive our department to a high level,” Ray added.
Supervisors chose Ray over two fellow county law enforcement veterans, Michael Barletta and Edwin Brock. Audience members applauded after the announcement.
“Congratulations, Mr. Ray,” said Nathan Fletcher, board chairman. “Welcome to the sheriff’s role.”
In a written statement, Fletcher said he and his colleagues “selected an interim sheriff who has demonstrated a commitment to reducing violent crime, improving the conditions in our jails, and embracing law enforcement best practices, along with a commitment to racial justice.”
Early in the meeting, Fletcher noted that each man “brings a lifetime of service to our community” and later credited them for handling the selection process with grace and dignity.
In a written statement, Supervisor Jim Desmond said public safety is the No. 1 responsibility of government and that he’s confident “Sheriff Ray will continue to keep San Diego County one of the safest in the country.”
“While all candidates were well-qualified this was the most seamless transition, until the voters choose their next sheriff,” Desmond added.
His colleague, Terra Lawson-Remer, said in a statement that it is critical “that the future leadership of our Sheriff’s Department take meaningful corrective actions to stop deaths in our jails,” and added that she’s committed to working with the department to advance policy reforms that protect public safety.
In a statement, board Vice Chairwoman Nora Vargas said that Tuesday and going forward, “I believe we need partners committed to reforming our Sheriff’s Department to better protect our communities. Sheriff Anthony Ray will complete the remaining term with professionalism and experience until our residents decide who will be our next sheriff in November.”
Supervisor Joel Anderson described Ray as well-suited for the job. “I look forward to supporting his efforts,” Anderson added. “His steady hand is what we need at this time.”
Barletta, Brock, and Ray answered questions on how they would improve jail conditions, handle recruitment and training, boost outreach to the homeless and mentally ill, and work to rebuild community trust.
During public comments, social justice activists proposed that the state take over running county jails. A recent state audit of in-custody fatalities at the county’s jails criticized the Sheriff’s Department’s safety record, which recorded 185 deaths between 2006 and 2020 in the seven detention centers it oversees, among the highest totals in the state.
“We’re not asking for anything that hasn’t been done before,” said Yusef Miller of the Racial Justice Coalition of San Diego. “Just last week we lost two lives [in custody],” Miller added.
Eric Garcia, vice president of Deputy Sheriff’s Association of San Diego County, said Ray is a well-respected official who’s “approachable, open-minded and experienced.”
Officially seeking the sheriff’s post so far in the run-up to November’s election are Undersheriff Kelly Martinez, former sheriff’s Commander David Myers, Assistant San Diego City Attorney John Hemmerling, and sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Newsom.
