Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake County Council unanimously ratified Unified Deputy Police Chief Rosie Rivera as Salt Lake County's new sheriff on Tuesday.
With many of her family, friends, members of the Unified Police Department and sheriff's office, and even Jon Huntsman Sr. present, Rivera was immediately sworn into office.
Rivera, who was elected by Democrats on Saturday to serve the remainder of outgoing Sheriff Jim Winder's term, said it was an honor to be sworn in and she is ready to get to work.
"I truly believe that this is the time we bring the community together with law enforcement to solve problems," she told the council. "I believe that as long as we work as a team, that we can accomplish anything."
Rivera said one of her first priorities will be to address the Salt Lake County Jail bed situation and how to make it better. Other areas the new sheriff wants to address are diversity in law enforcement, strengthening domestic violence laws, and better training on how officers deal with the mentally ill population.
"We don't need to book every mentally ill person into jail when we're interacting with them," she said.
Rivera becomes Salt Lake County's first female sheriff as well as its first Hispanic sheriff.
Councilwoman Jenny Wilson said Rivera is also the best person for the job. But she also noted the importance of her becoming sheriff.
"This isn't about the first woman or the first Latina. But I will say as a woman — and Amy (Winder-Newton) and I, the two women on this council — we are underrepresented. We have 60-plus percent of the workforce in Utah are women. Yet, in leadership positions, it's not nearly as high. So, while we are very happy to have her as the most qualified person … I want to note that it does matter to have women step up in these leadership positions, and I think it ultimately does make a difference. And working toward parity is a great goal."
Rivera also became the Unified Police Department's first ever female chief when she became head of the department's Riverton precinct, in addition to being the first female officer in the Metro Gang Unit. She replaces Winder, who left to become police chief of Moab.
Huntsman said he attended the ceremony Tuesday to support Rivera, who worked for him for a time doing private security.
Rivera said she intends to run for sheriff again in 2018 during the general election, when Republicans will also nominate a candidate.
