History

County Establishment

Napa County was one of the original 27 counties established in 1850. The county lines changed several times before settling on its current boundaries, which consist of 794 square miles. Our first Sheriff was Nathaniel McKimmey, who was elected Sheriff of Napa County in 1853, and the entire County population at the time was estimated to be 450 people. The first known lynching in Napa County occurred during Sheriff McKimmey's first year on the job.

Duties

The Sheriff's Office has historically performed various duties mainly consisting of Patrol, Court Security, Custody, Civil Process and presiding over executions.  Napa County was the site of the last public execution in California.  This occurred in 1897 when William Rowe was hung for the murder of Lucina Greenwood. 

Sheriffs

Since Napa County was formed, there have been twenty-nine elected Sheriffs. The Office of the Coroner was separate until Sheriff Stewart's term, at which time it was merged with the Office of the Sheriff. Our current Sheriff/Coroner is Sheriff Oscar Ortiz, who was sworn in on June 22, 2021.

Oscar Ortiz

Oscar Ortiz

2021 - Oscar Ortiz

2012 - John R. Robertson

2007 - Douglas E. Koford

1986 - Gary L. Simpson

1978 - Phillip E. Stewart

1966 - Earl Randol

1946 - John Clausen

1944 - Joseph Moore

1926 - John P. Steckter


1918 - Joseph R. Harris

1910 - Edward A. Kelton

1898 - D.A. Dunlap

1888 - George S. McKenzie

1886 - H.H. Harris

1884 - Leander L. James

1879 - Bennett James

1877 - John F. Tollner

1875 - Bennett James

1873 - L.M. Corwin

1871 - John Zollner 

1867 - A.B. Walker

1865 - Ralph Ellis

1863 - T.F. Raney

1861 - Charles H. Allen

1855 - John S. Stark

1855 - Robert Crouch

1854 - John S. Robberson

1853 - William G. Edgerton

1853 - N. McKimmey