Sheriff Mims honored for ‘breaking glass ceilings’ at annual Fresno County address
Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims was honored with the Fresno County Lifetime of Service Award on Tuesday during Fresno County’s annual State of the County event held in downtown Fresno and hosted by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce.
Fresno County Supervisor Brian Pacheco, the current chair of the Board of Supervisors, presented the award to Mims, who is retiring.
“Throughout her entire career, Sheriff Mims has broken so many glass ceilings, I would’ve hated to have been the janitorial service picking up all the glass after everything she’s done,” Pacheco said.
Mims announced earlier this year that she would not seek re-election after serving as sheriff since 2006. More than 40 years ago, Mims was the first woman police officer at the Kerman Police Department. She joined the sheriff’s office in 1983 and rose through the ranks before becoming sheriff. She also was Fresno County’s first woman sheriff.
In accepting the honor, Mims reminded the audience that her job is to serve the community.
“To the community members, we need your permission to do our jobs, and you’ve given your permission,” Mims said. “There’s no higher calling than to be a public servant, and that’s the way we need to look at ourselves.”
She also thanked her department, law enforcement partners, other county departments and her family.
Other community “heroes” also were honored during the event, including Catherine Huerta, who works with the county’s child welfare services; retired Cal Fire Chief Mark A. Johnson, for his role in protecting the Shaver Lake town from the Creek Fire; and Dr. Marcia Sablan and Dr. Oscar Sablan, a couple who worked to vaccinate communities in western Fresno County against COVID-19.
Pacheco also highlighted the county’s record-high new budget, at $4.5 billion. In the last few years, several county capital projects were completed, including the new district attorney’s office, the new animal shelter, and soon a large addition to the Fresno County Jail.
He also noted newly negotiated labor contracts that gave raises to county employees, as well as new directors who moved into leadership roles for a number of departments over the last five years.
“The pandemic has taught us not to take things for granted, to appreciate every day and every opportunity that is given to us,” Pacheco said. “Hopefully, …we learned that we are all essential people. It doesn’t matter what department we are in or what current career path we are on. We all have the ability and the opportunity to make a difference.”
This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 4:26 PM.