Sheriffs of Yuma County

Prior to the first elections in the newly created four counties, Sheriffs were appointed by the Arizona Territority Governor. Since then, Sheriffs were elected by the majority of voters in each county. When a vacancy occurred between elections, the Sheriff was appointed by the County Board of Supervisors.

From 1864 until 1871, the Yuma County (2nd Judicial District) Sheriff’s Office was located in La Paz, Arizona, which was the county seat at that time. In 1871, all county records were transferred from La Paz to Arizona City when that small river port settlement became the county seat. Two years later Arizona City’s name was changed to Yuma.

To view a short biography of the listed sheriffs, click links below:

• Isaac A. Bradshaw
  June 1, 1864 - September 10, 1864
  Appointed by Arizona Territory Governor as Sheriff of 2nd Judicial District
  

• William Augustus Werninger
  September 26, 1864 - November 9, 1864
  Appointed by Arizona Territory Governor as Sheriff of Yuma County after the creation of the 4 original A. T. counties
  

• Cornelius Sage
  December 15, 1864 - May 3, 1865
  Appointed / Killed in the line of duty
  

• Alexander McKey
  May 22, 1865 - 1866
  

• William T. Flower
  March 16, 1866 - December 10, 1866
  Appointed by BOS / Resigned
  

• Col. Marcus D. Dobbins
  December 10, 1866 - September 14, 1867
  Appointed by BOS
  

• David King
  September 14, 1867 - January 6, 1869
  Elected / Resigned
  

• James T. Dana
  January 6, 1869 - August 31, 1869 (Appointed)
  September 1, 1869 - December 31, 1870 (Elected)
  January 1, 1871 - September 20, 1871 (Elected)
  Killed in the line of duty.
  

• George Tyng
  October 3, 1871 - December 31, 1872 (Appointed by BOS)
  January 1, 1873 - April 7, 1873 (Elected/Resigned)
  Office in Arizona City (Yuma)

• Dr. Francis Henri Goodwin
  April 7, 1873 - December 31, 1874 (Appointed)
  

• William Augustus Werninger
  January 1, 1875 - December 31, 1876 (Elected)
  January 1, 1877 - July 3, 1878 (Elected/Resigned)
  

• Andrew Tyner
  July 3, 1878 - December 31, 1878 (Appointed)
  January 1, 1879 - July 12, 1880 (Elected/Resigned)
  

• Francis Marion Hodges
  July 12, 1880 - December 31, 1880 (Appointed)
  January 1, 1881 - June 7, 1881 (Elected/Resigned)
  

• Andrew Tyner
  June 7, 1881 - December 31, 1882 (Appointed)
  January 1, 1883 - December 31, 1884
  January 1, 1885 - December 31, 1886
  

• Michael J. Nugent
  January 1, 1887 - December 31, 1888
  January 1, 1889 - December 31, 1890
  January 1, 1891 - December 31, 1892
  

• Mel Greenleaf
  January 1, 1893 - December 31, 1894
  January 1, 1895 - December 31, 1896
  January 1, 1897 - December 31, 1898
  

• John M. Speese
  January 1, 1899 - December 31, 1900
  

• Gus Livingston
  January 1, 1901 - December 31, 1902
  January 1, 1903 - December 31, 1904
  January 1, 1905 - December 31, 1906
  January 1, 1907 - December 31, 1908
  January 1, 1909 - February 10, 1912
  

• Mel Greenleaf
  February 11, 1912 - December 31, 1914
  January 1, 1915 - December 31, 1916
  January 1, 1917 - December 31, 1920
  

• James Miles Polhamus
  January 1, 1921 - December 31, 1922
  

• James Chappell
  January 1, 1923 - December 31, 1928
  

• James Miles Polhamus
  January 1, 1929 - November 21, 1929 (died)
  Undersheriff J.C. Hunter was appointed to complete Polhamus’ term which ended on 12/31/1930
  

• Jesse Carlton “J.C.” Hunter
  November 21, 1929 - December 31, 1930 (appointed)
  January 1, 1931 - December 31, 1934
  

• Thomas H. “Pete” Newman
  1935-1944
  

• Jack Beard
  1945-1950
  

• James Washum
  1951-1954
  

• Thomas H. “Pete” Newman
  1955-1960
  

• Lee Elmer Echols
  January 1, 1961 - December 31, 1962
  

• Travis Yancey
  January 1, 1963 - December 31, 1964 (2-year term)
  January 1, 1965 - December 31, 1968
  January 1, 1969 - December 31, 1972
  January 1, 1973 - December 31, 1976
  January 1, 1977 - December 31, 1980
  

• John R. Phipps
  January 1, 1981 - December 31, 1984
  January 1, 1985 - December 31, 1988
  January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1992
  

• Ralph Edward Ogden
  January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1996
  January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2000
  January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2004
  January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008
  January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2012
  

• Leon Neal Wilmot
  January 1, 2013 - December 31, 2016
  January 1, 2017 - December 31, 2020
  January 1, 2021 - present
  

Disclaimer

DISCLAIMER: The information regarding the past Sheriffs of Yuma County is a work in progress. The dates and information may change as information is corroborated through research.

If you have any information or photos pertaining to any of the past sheriffs, please contact:

Anna Amezcua
Tel: (928) 783-4427, Ext. 3007 Email: Anna.Amezcua@ycso.yumacountyaz.gov