Ada County Sheriff Steve Bartlett announced Monday he is retiring, effective immediately.
Bartlett announced the "surprise" decision in an email sent to more than 750 employees within the agency, according to an ACSO news release.
Chief Deputy Scott Johnson will take over as acting sheriff, Bartlett said in the email. The Ada County Republican central committee will later select up to three candidates to replace Bartlett and the Board of Commissioners will choose the replacement, according to ACSO. It is undetermined when or how the process will go, according to ACSO.
In the email, Bartlett said he is attending "personal items":
It has been an absolute privilege to serve you and this incredible community. You are great people and I have loved every minute of being your sheriff. I have to attend to a couple personal items and scheduling in my life and am looking forward to that very much.
Stay safe and enjoy the journey. Steve
Bartlett has been with the Ada County Sheriff's Office since 2003 and was appointed sheriff in 2015.
In a statement from ACSO, Johnson said Bartlett's exit does not change the agencies approach to the job.
"Chief Deputy Johnson and the rest of the ACSO command staff want to reassure the community that Bartlett’s exit changes nothing about the way we are doing our jobs.
Our mission statement is that we work every day to make Ada County a safer place to live, work, and play. Every one of our 750+ employees remains dedicated to that goal — and every one of us serves the agency, which is so much more than any one person."
ACSO officials say personnel rules do not allow them to release any more information on Bartlett's departure.
