SPRINGFIELD – Lane County Sheriff Cliff Harrold has announced his retirement, effective May 16, as he prepares to embark on a new career in public safety. Sheriff Harrold has dedicated 35 years to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office, having been appointed sheriff in 2019 and subsequently elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024. He will assume the role of Security Manager for the PeaceHealth Oregon network, with his first day scheduled for Monday, May 19.
“It is with much thought and consideration that I have decided to retire from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office effective May 16. After 35 years, I am ready to step back and contemplate what the future looks like for myself and my family,” said Harrold. “It has been an honor to work with all the incredible men and women who make up the Lane County Sheriff’s Office. Their dedication to serving our community is unparalleled, and I could not have asked to serve alongside better people.”
Harrold began his law enforcement career as a cadet in the Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 35 years ago and briefly served as a dispatcher for the Cottage Grove Police Department. He was hired as a full-time deputy in 1995. Over the years, Harrold has taken on nearly every assignment available at the Sheriff’s Office, including roles in the Corrections Division, Court Transport, Traffic Safety Team, Patrol, Field Training Officer, SWAT operator, and Marine Patrol, among others.
“I congratulate Sheriff Cliff Harrold with tremendous appreciation and admiration for his decades of service to Lane County,” remarked Lane County District Attorney Chris Parosa. “Sheriff Harrold’s sound and steady leadership has made our community safer, modernized our local jail, and improved the lives of countless Lane County residents. His charm, thoughtfulness, and collaborative nature have been a powerful model for a new District Attorney. Congratulations, Sheriff Harrold, friend.”
Sheriff Harrold shared his retirement announcement through a letter to the Lane County community, which was made available online today. The letter is attached.
In the interim, Chief Deputy Carl Wilkerson will serve as Sheriff until the Board of County Commissioners establishes the process to appoint Harrold’s successor. The Board is expected to initiate this discussion next Tuesday, May 6, during its regular business meeting.
“Cliff brings the exact blend of experience we need in this role,” said Alicia Beymer, chief administrative officer for Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. “His experience in law enforcement and his existing connections with local agencies will prove invaluable as we look to strengthen our culture of safety. His demonstrated focus on development and support for his teams throughout his career dovetails perfectly with PeaceHealth’s mission and values.”
Harrold will oversee a unit dedicated to safeguarding caregivers and patients in PeaceHealth facilities throughout the Oregon network, focusing on staff recruitment and training, developing programs to prevent workplace violence, and building strong relationships with community partners.
Having joined the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in 1990 at the encouragement of a local Creswell Contract Deputy, Cliff earned an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Lane Community College. He boasts extensive experience in law enforcement and has led public safety responses to natural disasters, social unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he is a member of the Lane County Poverty and Homelessness Boards and the Lane County Mental Health Summit. In March 2017, he graduated from the FBI National Academy and was recognized in 2024 by the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association.
