It was a chilly, overcast morning at San Joaquin County Sheriff's headquarters in French Camp, just south of Stockton. But just as the noon swearing-in ceremony began, the weather changed and the sun came out.
Coincidentally, its change and transparency for which new San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow is calling.
Withrow was sworn-in as the county's 25th elected sheriff, dating back to 1850.
"I'm just very honored, very happy, very blessed to have this," Withrow said. "And, I'm looking forward to getting in and getting started."
In front of his family, friends, dozens of deputies and dignitaries, Withrow thanked everyone for the opportunity to become sheriff.
Withrow defeated incumbent Sheriff Steve Moore to become the county's top cop. Four years ago he ran against Moore and lost.
The embattled Moore, who played role of both sheriff and county coroner, came under fire last year after former San Joaquin County pathologists Dr. Bennet Omalu and Dr. Susan Parson made accusations that he was changing their findings on several cases.
In response, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted to create a new, independent medical examiner's office, separating the sheriff-coroner title.
For now, an outside company is performing the autopsies. Sheriff Withrow will continue the role of coroner until a new chief medical examiner is hired.
"I look forward to the board of supervisors choosing a new medical examiner to come in and we'll work closely with them," Withrow said. "And I'm sure it will be a smooth transition once they learn our procedures here."
Incoming San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors chairman Miguel Villapudua says the interview process is continuing, but he says a new medical examiner will be in place this year.
Meanwhile, the new sheriff spelled out some of his plans, which include four patrol teams on the streets, instead of five, in order to increase "more coverage and back-up for our officers."
He says it will allow officers to be more proactive and "stop people from being victimized ahead of time."
He's establishing a new unit called AGNET or Agricultural Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team. Withrow says it will made-up of 23 officers as an "impact team" to assist other patrol officers throughout the county.
He is also equipping each patrol car with a ballistic shield to protect officers against gunfire.
The new sheriff has plans to establish a new "Chaplaincy Program" to help families and officers with spiritual guidance or counseling when needed.
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