Senate approves appointment of former sheriff as US marshal.
Fort Smith’s Grimes to serve
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate has confirmed a former Sebastian County sheriff as the next U.S. marshal for the agency’s Western District of Arkansas.
President Joe Biden nominated Gary Grimes in December for a four-year term in the marshal position. The Senate approved the nomination Wednesday evening with a voice vote, meaning members did not have to record their individual votes for a formal roll call.
Grimes’ law enforcement experience spans more than four decades with positions in Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas, including sheriff of Sebastian County from 1989 to 1999. During Gov. Mike Beebe’s administration, Grimes, of Fort Smith, served as liaison to law enforcement and emergency management from 2007 to 2011.
After leaving the Beebe administration, Grimes became the principal owner of Grimes & Associates LLC, a consulting firm prioritizing issues involving law enforcement, security and government affairs.
“It means a lot to me that I’ve been able to advance in law enforcement,” Grimes told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette following Wednesday’s vote. “The other thing that means quite a bit to me is the fact that I’m able to again work with fellow officers, be it the men and women of the United States Marshals Service.”
The U.S. Marshal Service’s Western District of Arkansas includes the municipalities of Fayetteville, Hot Springs, Texarkana and El Dorado, with its main office in Fort Smith. The rest of the state is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Marshal’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.
Grimes recalled “looking on the outside” at the U.S. marshal position during his tenure as sheriff.
“I look forward to again working with the people of the United States Marshals Service,” he said. “I’ve met a lot of the people in the last few months, and look forward to working on some of the things and cases they work on throughout the Western District.”
Sens. John Boozman, R-Ark., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., congratulated Grimes on Thursday for his confirmation.
“Gary Grimes has dedicated his career to public safety,” said Boozman, of Rogers. “I am confident he will continue to serve Arkansas with the same honor and distinction he has demonstrated as a law enforcement officer.”
Cotton, of Little Rock, wished Grimes well, expressing faith in Grimes’ ability to “continue to diligently serve the state of Arkansas, just as he has done for decades.”