On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher announced he will retire and not seek a third term as county sheriff, planning to step down from his position in December 2020.
He informed YCSO staff at a staff meeting on Tuesday, according to a YCSO press release.
“I have accomplished many goals as sheriff and am ready to move into private life and explore other opportunities following my retirement next year,” Mascher wrote in the press release. “As I have said many times, you are only as good as the people around you, and this has been the case throughout my time as sheriff. There are currently many outstanding staff members in leadership roles, and I am confident they will continue the progress we have made to serve the citizens of Yavapai County. This agency as a whole has done an incredibly good job, which is evident by crime statistics below state and national averages.”
Mascher has been with the YCSO since 1983, having first started as a volunteer reserve deputy. He became a full time deputy in 1986 and worked his way up to being appointed sheriff in June 2011 following the retirement of Sheriff Steve Waugh.
He was elected to a full term in 2012 and reelected to it in 2016. He served as president of the Arizona Sheriff’s Association from 2012 to 2014.
Mascher expressed an intention to continue his commitment to his position for the remaining 13 months of his term.
“Yavapai County is a great place to live,” Mascher wrote. “The Sheriff’s Office is directly responsible to ensure our public safety and to maintain a quality of life that we can all enjoy. I will continue to place a high priority on maintaining this standard.”
Jon Hecht can be reached at 634-8551 or email jhecht@larsonnewspapers.com
