Sheriff David Gutierrez Announces Resignation

Lubbock County Sheriff David Gutierrez announced Monday his resignation and his next move to the state level.

The sheriff has served in Lubbock County for over thirty years, and has been the sheriff for more than a decade.  In Judge Sam Medina's courtroom with his family filling the seats, Sheriff Gutierrez announced he'll resign effective September 12th and move to Austin to serve on the Board of Pardons and Paroles.  He says he's turned down several previous opportunities to leave, but he wanted to see through the building of the new jail, until it opened.  Now that it's been postponed again, he's decided this is the right move at the right time.  Today, he also addressed recent in office changes he's made before he leaves.

"I stand on my record, everything I've done for the sheriff's office has been about operating a professional office and moving the office forward.  I may have to make difficult decisions...I believe they're right decisions professionally.  I do not make them personally, I make them professionally and I stand on my record of service of 11 years as sheriff to Lubbock County."

Gutierrez will start in Austin on September 14th.  The County Commissioners will appoint an interim sheriff until the next general election.