Pierce County Sheriff Announces Retirement

PIERCE COUNTY, WA — Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor is preparing to retire after heading the department for nearly two decades — the longest streak in county history. The News Tribune reports Pastor notified command staff on Thursday and plans to step down in January or February before his term is up next December. According to the newspaper, the county council will appoint interim leadership, and those planning to run in the next election have until May to file. A spokesman for the Sheriff's Department told KOMO News Pastor needed a change after 19 years and is looking at options nationally.