- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Sheriff signs off and heads into retirement
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s sheriff hung up his badge on Friday at the end of his second term.
Brian Martin stepped into retirement this week, just two months following his surprise announcement that he planned to leave office after having won a third term running unopposed in June.
Martin’s 28-year law enforcement career began in 1992 when he became a military police officer in the U.S. Army, serving in that capacity for five years. After he was honorably discharged in 1997, he joined the Pismo Beach Police Department.
He returned in 2005 to work in Lake County, where he had grown up in a family filled with public servants, including his father, Richard Martin, now retired after having been a Lake County Superior Court judge, and mother Joyce Campbell, a retired deputy district attorney for Lake County.
Martin, 51, went on to serve more than 15 years in Lake County law enforcement, including the last eight years as sheriff.
Earlier this month Martin received a resolution that Congressman Mike Thompson read into the congressional record honoring him for his contributions to Lake County and his leadership during several disasters that hit the county, including fires, floods and COVID-19.
The Board of Supervisors on Dec. 13 presented a proclamation to Martin, published below, in praise of his career and services to Lake County.
On Friday at 2:14 p.m., Martin had his last “10-10” call — indicating that he was off duty — from Central Dispatch. The call is posted on this page.
From Saturday through Monday, Capt. Chris Chwialkowski will be acting sheriff.
Then, on Jan. 2, Rob Howe will be sworn in as sheriff of Lake County, a role he will fill for the next two years.
The Board of Supervisors appointed Howe as sheriff on Dec. 20. He is a former sheriff’s office captain who has served as chief probation officer since March 2012.
The full text of the Board of Supervisors’ proclamation honoring Martin is below.
WHEREAS, being a dedicated Lake County public servant came naturally to Brian Martin, as he was surrounded by examples of public service: his father, the Honorable Judge Richard Martin, his mother, retired Deputy District Attorney for Lake County. His parents’ invaluable contributions to the County of Lake have set a high bar for both Brian and other community leaders. The values his parents instilled in him have been evident to everyone who has worked with Brian throughout his impressive career. Prior to starting his law enforcement career, Brian Martin joined the Army as a Military Police and served his country with honor for five years; and
WHEREAS, starting with his employment with Lake County on July 18, 2005, Brian Martin has always been respected and well-liked by his colleagues in local law enforcement, all the way back to his early days working for the Sheriff’s Department. He worked his way up to become a member of the Department’s Command Staff with the rank of Lieutenant and was eventually elected as the Sheriff-Coroner of Lake County and started in that position on January 6, 2015; and
WHEREAS, regardless of his rank or position, Brian Martin always demonstrated himself to be a dedicated public servant, reliable, hard-working and with the highest level of integrity and ethics. He is known as being fair and even-handed. He is also known for speaking up and speaking out with honesty and sincerity on behalf of the Lake County residents he serves; and
WHEREAS, Brian Martin’s election as Sheriff-Coroner brought ethical leadership, stability, and public trust to the Sheriff’s Department at a critical time when it was urgently needed. His skills as a leader were invaluable to the County during a series of catastrophic wildfires and other emergencies that occurred during his tenure as Sheriff-Coroner. Like his parents before him, Brian Martin has set a high bar of what to expect from our County Sheriff-Coroner. Brian and his spouse, Crystal, both are public servants serving their communities and instilling in their children and their communities the value of public service.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Lake does hereby commend Brian Martin for his 15 years of service to the County of Lake and to the residents of Lake County, and extends our appreciation for his dedication and hard work, and wish him the best in the future.
SIGNED: Eddie Crandell, Chair, Board of Supervisors
ATTEST: Susan Parker, Clerk to the Board of Supervisors
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