The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously elected Officer Anthony Ray Tuesday as acting sheriff.
Supervisors decided to have Ray finish out former Sheriff Bill Gore's term during a public hearing. Gore retired on February 3. Deputy Sheriff Kelly Martinez has served as the acting deputy since Gore's retirement.
Ray has been the deputy sheriff overseeing the courts and human resources for the sheriff's office; he will now fill the position previously held by Bill Gore, who resigned after serving twelve years on the job.
Ray will be in the position until he takes over the winner of the elections next November. Gore, 74, announced last summer that he would not seek re-election this year.
The now-acting sheriff has more than 30 years of law enforcement experience, patrolling and making arrests.
Ray joined the Sheriff's Department in August 1991. He graduated from the 11th Correctional Academy. In 1995, he graduated from the 28th Regional Law Enforcement Academy.
As an officer, Ray was in charge at the Las Colinas Men's Detention Center, George Bailey Detention Center, and the Santee Sheriff's Station and Police Support.
In 2005, the sheriff named Ray sergeant. Ray worked at the Santee Sheriff's Station and the Inspection Services Division. In 2008, he was lieutenant and in charge of the Sheriff's Communications Center, the Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation, and the San Diego Law Enforcement Coordination Center.
Ray was promoted to Captain in 2014 and oversaw the Sheriff's Staff Division and the Santee Sheriff's Station.
In 2017, the sheriff named him commander in the Sheriff's Office of Law Enforcement Services. He oversaw the Offices of Human Resources and Court Services as Deputy Sheriff in 2020.
Ray's appointment as acting sheriff will take effect on April 5. At that time, Sheriff Kelly Martinez will resume her duties as deputy.
Upon learning of the board of supervisors' decision, the new in-house sheriff pledged to "continue to serve communities, expand our partnerships with local advocacy groups, continue improvements to our jails, and keep public safety at the forefront of our operations".
