Sheriff Don Barnes, Sheriff, Orange County, CA

Sheriff Don Barnes has over thirty years of law enforcement service to the people of Orange County. He joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1989. Over the course of his career with the department he has held every leadership rank, culminating with his election as the 13th Sheriff-Coroner for Orange County in November 2018 and his re-election on June 7, 2022.

Sheriff Barnes leads a department of approximately 4,000 employees. The men and women of the Sheriff’s Department provide patrol services for approximately 800,000 residents, operate one of the nation’s largest county jail systems, manage the Orange County Crime Lab, conduct criminal investigations, and provide training services at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy. The Sheriff serves as the County’s Mutual Aid Coordinator and is responsible for emergency management. In 2020 the Sheriff faced the challenge leading the County’s response to multiple emergencies: the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and multiple wildfires.

During his tenure as Sheriff, he has focused on initiatives aimed at fighting crime, enhancing school safety, implementing programs in the jail to reduce recidivism, and increasing efforts to stop trafficking of deadly narcotics. The issues of homelessness, mental illness and drug addiction impact the safety and quality of life for Orange County residents. To address these issues the Sheriff has taken a leadership role in creating the County of Orange Integrated Services Plan. This plan is an effort by multiple stakeholders in Orange County to better coordinate existing resources and more effectively mitigate these issues. These efforts are receiving national recognition. In February 2020, Sheriff Barnes was appointed to serve on the Social Problems Working Group, a subcommittee of the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement. The Commission’s December 2020 Final Report featured recommendations that highlighted several best practices from Orange County, including the Integrated Services Plan.

The Sheriff has worked to be an advocate for law enforcement and public safety both at the state and federal level. He currently serves as an executive officer with the California State Sheriffs’ Association (CSSA) and serves as the chair of CSSA’s Technology Committee. At the national level, he serves as chair of the Major County Sheriffs of America’s (MCSA) Intelligence Commander Group. In that capacity the Sheriff is working to ensure open communication amongst local, state and federal law enforcement regarding critical threats facing our nation. This work is also accomplished through his service as MCSA’s representative to the Department of Justice’s Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council (CICC).

In addition to his law enforcement work, the Sheriff is also an active member of several community organizations. He serves as board member for Orange County Crime Stoppers, Laura’s House, the Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA), the Special Olympics Regional Leadership Council, and the Sheriff’s Interfaith Council.

Sheriff Barnes has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Administration. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the FBI National Executive Institute, USC’s CREATE Program on Counter-Terrorism, the Senior Management Institute for Policing, and IACP’s Leadership in Police Organizations.

A Southern California native, Sheriff Barnes has been a resident of Orange County for over forty years. He and his wife, Marilyn, are the proud parents of two adult children. The Barnes Family are members of Saddleback Church in South Orange County. In his free time, Sheriff Barnes enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking meals on his smoker, working on cars, and reading.

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    “Election officials are the heroes of our democracy, working harder than almost anyone I know to ensure that every one of us can exercise our fundamental right to vote. The intimidation and threats against these dedicated officials and their families must stop."

    Kathy Boockvar
    Vice President of Election Operations and Support, Center for Internet Security
    Kathy Boockvar
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    “Democracy can only survive and thrive if we respect and protect its values and principles. Elected officials must respect those they serve, freely act within their elected authority and act on behalf of a nation that ensures their safety so they may make decisions without fear or intimidation. That is a true democracy."

    Sheriff Paul Penzone
    Maricopa County, Arizona
    Sheriff Paul Penzone
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    “Access to the ballot should not be stymied in any manner, nor should we ever lose valuable election officials because they are worn down from harassment, fear, threats and undue job hardships created to alter public faith in the electoral process. "

    Kathy Holland
    Director of Elections, Alamance County North Carolina (Ret.)
    Kathy Holland
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    “I joined the committee because I took an oath, along with my law enforcement colleagues, to protect and serve all persons, which is in alignment with my personal values and morals. "

    Captain Harold Love
    Michigan State Police (Ret.), Owner and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Harold J. Love & Associates
    Captain Harold Love
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    “The 2020 election cycle brought many challenges for election officials, but the most shocking for me were the death threats, verbal assaults, intimidation, and scare tactics. I am one of the election officials that had my life and the lives of my family members threatened, and the threats have not ceased."

    Tina Barton
    Senior Elections Expert, The Elections Group
    Tina Barton
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    “My dad was a city clerk. Elections were a central and cherished part of his job. I joined this committee to ensure that today’s election officials can keep America’s elections running safely and securely, just like he did."

    Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian
    Middlesex County, Massachusetts
    Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian
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    “Election officials are unsung heroes of American democracy—they make sure our system operates as intended. Threats to these public servants are an attack on democracy itself. Law enforcement and election officials working together can help chart a safer and more secure path forward for future elections."

    Orion Danjuma
    Counsel, Protect Democracy
    Orion Danjuma
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    “Safe, secure, transparent elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. CSSE members recognize the great responsibility associated with election administration and embrace public accountability to ensure that all eligible voters can freely exercise their right to vote and have their ballots counted. We make it a point to welcome and encourage those who want to peacefully observe this fundamental democratic process."

    Neal Kelley
    Registrar of Voters (Ret.) Orange County, California
    Neal Kelley
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    “As an election official who experienced the verbal threats and intimidation directed at me and my staff I feel I must be a voice on this committee to work with law enforcement to address this issue."

    Joseph Gloria
    Registrar of Voters, Clark County, Nevada
    Joseph Gloria
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    “Election workers are the guardians of our democracy, and attacks on them for doing their jobs are unacceptable. I’m proud to stand with and in support of this group of law enforcement and election officials, who are working on practical solutions to keep our elections safe and secure."

    Larry Norden
    Senior Director, Elections & Government, Brennan Center for Justice
    Larry Norden
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    “I have joined this committee because I believe in the mission and have full confidence that we will develop practices that are results driven and further strengthen the pipeline between law enforcement and election officials."

    Derek Bowens
    Director of Elections, Durham County, North Carolina
    Derek Bowens