The San Diego County Board of supervisors questioned three candidates that will be considered next week as interim Sheriff.
Michael Barletta, Edwin Brock, and Anthony Ray all are veterans in Law Enforcement. The board will hear again from the finalists and make an appointment at a special meeting on March 22 at 9 a.m.
Both Barletta and Brock have worked with the Sheriff’s department. Barletta is a retired commander, and Brock is a retired lieutenant at the San Marcos station, and currently serves as chief of police in Arvin, a city in Kern County.
Ray is an assistant San Diego County sheriff who oversees courts and human resources and served the department for over 30 years. He collaterally is assigned as a co-director for the San Diego County Regional Leadership Institute.
Initially, there were four applicants, but Sheriff’s Commander Hank Turner withdrew his name from consideration due to another job offer.
During a public comment period, several speakers, including David Leonhardi, president of the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County, urged the board to select Ray, based on his experience and community engagement.
Due to the early retirement of former Sheriff William Gore, who had served as Sheriff since 2009, the Board is appointing an Interim Sheriff to complete the current term. In November 2022, voters will elect a successor who will take office in January 2023.
None of the applicants considered for appointment are candidates for Sheriff in the upcoming election.
Officially seeking the post so far in the upcoming election are Undersheriff Kelly Martinez, former sheriff’s Cmdr. David Myers, Assistant San Diego City Attorney John Hemmerling, and sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Newsom.
