San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy to retire at end of 2019
San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, the first woman to lead the nearly 170-year-old law enforcement agency, will not seek re-election in November, ending a four-decade career with the department while leaving it up to her successor to continue reforming the city’s jails in an uncertain political climate.
Hennessy, 66, said she will retire at the end of the year after four years as sheriff. Her decision came after months of reflection after recent painful knee-replacement surgery along with family and personal issues. In the end, Hennessy said, she can no longer dedicate the time required to do the job.
“I’ve devoted over 40 years to the Sheriff’s Department and the city, and that’s a good run,” she said. “I have to now carve out some time for myself.”
Hennessy spoke Thursday morning in her office on the fourth floor of San Francisco’s City Hall, where she detailed her accomplishments, recent department failings and goals she has for her final nine months in office. Whoever becomes the city’s next sheriff will have to negotiate a range of challenges that come with leading the department, such as working to manage the inmate population, improving jail conditions and navigating issues related to immigration enforcement.
Hennessy was elected in 2015 and immediately faced scandal after deputies were accused of holding gladiator-style battles between inmates under her predecessor, Ross Mirkarimi. This year, new allegations of excessive force and misconduct by jail deputies in city jails came to light.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/San-Francisco-Sheriff-Vicki-Hennessy-to-retire-at-13724607.php