Overview
- The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to appoint Undersheriff Eric Palmberg to replace Sheriff Jeff Leikauf and gave him an effective start date of Dec. 26 to serve the remainder of the term.
- Leikauf, who is retiring after 36 years in law enforcement, publicly recommended Palmberg and said his retirement was voluntary.
- Former Sheriff John D’Agostini unsuccessfully asked to be appointed and used public remarks and social media to press for Leikauf’s removal, contributing to visible division at the supervisors’ meeting.
- Speakers at the hearing voiced sharply different views about the officeholder question, while supervisors cited internal checks showing daily operations were running smoothly as a reason to choose the sitting undersheriff.
- Under California practice the board appointment is temporary and the next regular election will let voters pick the next full-term sheriff, a process that will shape who leads the department long term and how the county moves past the dispute.