Acting Marin County Sheriff Jamie Scardina had the “acting” taken off his title July 19 when the Marin County Board of Supervisors appointed him to the position, becoming the 22nd sheriff in county history. Scardina, a Marin native and 23-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, replaces the retired Robert Doyle. Scardina took the oath of office, administered by Doyle, at a public swearing-in ceremony on July 28.
Scardina was elected as sheriff in the June Primary Election, running unopposed, and was to be sworn in when Doyle’s term ended January 2, 2023. However, Doyle retired June 30 after more than 52 years of public safety service to Marin, and Scardina became acting sheriff. The Board’s action on July 19 covers the time until January 2.
Scardina grew up in Corte Madera and attended Marin Catholic High School and College of Marin. He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with an emphasis in criminology from the University of Montana. After starting his law enforcement career as a Tiburon police officer, Scardina joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2000 and gradually was assigned more responsibilities as he was promoted from deputy to sergeant to lieutenant to captain. Scardina replaced the retired Mike Ridgway as undersheriff in 2018.
Scardina is only Marin’s third sheriff since 1983. He thanked Doyle for giving him a “tremendous amount of autonomy” during the past four years as he served as undersheriff. He pledged to listen to concerns and make decisions together with resident involvement.
“This is not an appointment I take lightly or for granted,” Scardina said at the July 19 Supervisors meeting. “I know it comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility. … This is something I’m looking forward to, working with staff and working with the community. I know there are a lot of people in the community who want to talk, and we’re looking forward to having those conversations.”
As sheriff, Scardina will lead a department of 311 full time staff and oversee a $77,735,000 operating budget. His annual salary will be $251,825.60 and benefits will be consistent with those received by other department heads.