Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones says he won’t seek third term

Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones announced Friday that he will not run for re-election in 2018.

The Sheriff’s Department released a copy of correspondence Jones sent to employees Friday saying that he would not seek a third term.

Jones cited several of the department’s accomplishments during his tenure, including youth and community outreach, the opening of a new communications center, obtaining more than $100 million in grants, transitioning to “intelligent-led policing,” and starting almost $90 million in renovations at the department’s Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center.

The county’s violent crime rate is down more than 10 percent, and the department enjoys a public satisfaction rating of more than 80 percent, he said.

Jones was first elected sheriff in November 2010, defeating then sheriff’s Capt. Jim Cooper. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2014.

In 2016, Jones was the Republican candidate for a House seat, but lost a tight race to incumbent Ami Bera.

In his message to Sheriff’s Office employees, Jones said he has no plans to leave early and intends to remain in office until after the November 2018 election.

This story was originally published August 25, 2017 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones says he won’t seek third term."