After 36 years with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jim Hart plans to retire on Dec. 6.
Hart began his career as a deputy sheriff in 1988 and has held every rank in the office, eventually being elected sheriff in June 2014.
Jim Hart
Under his leadership, the office has navigated seven federally declared disasters, the line-of-duty death of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, the CZU Lightning Complex Fire, protests following George Floyd’s murder, the COVID-19 pandemic, and most recently the fentanyl crisis.
Crime rates in the county’s unincorporated areas are at a record low, less than half the state average, which Sheriff Hart attributes to effective community policing policies.
He endorsed Undersheriff Chris Clark as the most qualified person to succeed him as sheriff.
Aptos Times interviewed Hart via email:
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What are you most proud of, during your tenure as sheriff?
There are several things that I’m extremely proud of, it’s hard to name just one.
Towards the top of the list would be the construction of the Sheriff’s Office DNA lab. This is something I’ve been working towards for years, and we are now seeing it come to fruition. This is not only a huge win for our office, but for the community and survivors of sexual assault. The results and the expedited process that will come from this lab will be a game-changer in holding offenders accountable and providing closure for survivors.
I’m also incredibly proud of my staff. Over the past few challenging years, they’ve shown remarkable resilience. Despite facing the pandemic, the loss of Sgt. Damon Gutzwiller, the CZU fire, COVID-19, and the protests following George Floyd’s murder, the personnel of the Sheriff’s Office have demonstrated the strength and dedication you would hope for in such difficult times.
Are the deputy ranks at full strength? How many openings to fill?
The Sheriff’s Office is in a good place right now, the numbers can change daily, but we currently have five openings for deputy sheriff and 11 for correctional officers.
Why did you choose to retire in mid term?
When I ran in 2022, the term was expected to be four years, but since legislation changed the term to six years, I made the decision to retire. There’s no major underlying reasons, I just felt the time was right to pass the torch.
What will you do post retirement?
I plan to spend as much time with family as possible, travel when we can, and simply enjoy this next chapter together.
I’m looking forward to spending time with my amazing wife, four children, and four grandchildren.
Why do you believe Chris Clark is prepared to be your successor?
Chris has served in every rank within this office, and in his current role as Undersheriff has run the day-to-day operations for the Sheriff’s Office for the last two years, and I’m confident he’ll excel in the role as Sheriff.
There’s nobody more prepared to take over this important role than he is. He’s not just a leader, but also a genuinely good person who deeply cares about this Office and our community.
Having worked closely with Chris for years, I know he is committed to building public trust, ensuring our community remains safe, and treating everyone with fairness and compassion while holding people accountable.
When will this office appear on the ballot?
Due to the change in legislation, the Sheriff’s Office will appear on the ballot again in 2028.