Despite having just been elected to a second term Tuesday, Wasatch County Sheriff Jared Rigby is on his way out.
The week before the election, Rigby accepted a new job as director of Utah Peace Officer Standards and Training, more commonly known as “P.O.S.T.” In his new role, he’ll oversee the branch of the Utah Department of Public Safety in charge of training, certifications and investigations of all Utah law enforcement.
He says he’ll continue to live in Wasatch County with his family but will miss his colleagues.
“I loved working there for more than 20 years, the sheriffs that have been so good to me, and their families, and all of our deputies and dispatchers and other employees,” Rigby said. “They’re awesome friends, and they do such a good job in our community, and I’ve loved spending time with them.”
He said he’ll continue as Sheriff into early January, then make the switch shortly after the new year begins, but no specific dates have been established.
Wasatch County Manager Dustin Grabau told KPCW the process of replacing Rigby won’t begin until he submits a letter of resignation to the county council.
After he does, the council will appoint an interim sheriff until the Wasatch County Republican Party selects a sheriff to serve for two years. After two years, a special election will determine who serves as sheriff in 2025 and 2026, then the 2026 election will elect a sheriff for a regular four-year term.
Rigby is also chair of the Wasatch County Republicans, so he could have a role in selecting his replacement. He said he would endorse Wasatch County Undersheriff Josh Probst if he were to seek the position.
He also said he believed the department would fall into good hands if someone else were to take over.
Before Rigby became sheriff in 2019, he worked for the Heber City Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office and Brigham Young University.
As Wasatch County Sheriff, he currently oversees more than 100 employees between the investigations, patrol and administrative departments, and the county jail.
