Sheriff Raymond announces reitrement
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
April 2026
By: Katherine Trowbridge
Franklin County Sheriff Jim Raymond made his impending retirement official on Friday, April 3.
It seems the campaign season got a head start with signs for Sheriff going up even before the first day of Spring. Raymond reflected on this in his stating that, “seeing signage appear on the streets and across social media prompted me to announce my retirement after 45 years in law enforcement.”
He came to Pasco from Deer Park, Washington in 1978, at the age of 18, to attend Columbia Basin College and pursue the dream of a college football career. As with many implants to this area, with no intentions of staying, and yet here he is. He and his wife, Donna, raised a family in Pasco, putting down roots and finding community.
Raymond began his career as a 21 year old Patrol Officer for the City of Pasco. He served the City of Pasco from 1982 to 2014.
“I eventually rose to the rank of Captain and occasionally served as Interim Police Chief,” he recalled, “Those decades of experience in nearly every aspect of the profession enabled me to achieve my long-term goal: being elected Sheriff of Franklin County.”
He was elected as Franklin County Sheriff in 2014, defeating long-term Sheriff Richard Lathim. Raymond would ultimately go on to serve three terms in the office.
In 2015, he moved to the office of Sheriff. Raymond states, “I was elected to bring reform to the Sheriff’s Office and Jail, and over the last twelve years, our team has achieved significant success.”
Raymond lists in the top of his accomplishments the implementation of 21st-century policing models, which led the Sheriff’s Office to becoming a dual-accredited agency- held by both the jail and sheriff’s office. Also taking “great pride in the training platforms we developed.” Sharing that modernization efforts and community policing initiatives were made possible by the support of the Franklin County Sheriff Foundation, local businesses, and community leaders.
He shared that when asked about his favorite role in his career, “the answer is simple: serving as a uniformed sergeant on the streets of Pasco. Leading a dedicated team of officers taught me the true meaning of community policing. It showed me that there are far more good people in this world than bad, and that honest communication is the key to successful public service.”
As the 2026 campaign for a new Sheriff gets underway through signage on streets and in social media, Raymond took the opportunity to make his own endorsement of Undersheriff Monty Huber.
“Having worked closely with him for over a decade, I have seen firsthand his commitment to modernizing this office and his unwavering dedication to the safety of our residents,” Raymond said of Huber.
WIth nine months left in office, Raymond stated “I will continue to serve to the best of my ability as your Sheriff until the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2026. It has been an absolute honor and I consider myself a truly blessed man.”
“Thank you, Franklin County and Pasco, for allowing me to be part of this wonderful, diverse community. I am grateful for the chance to have contributed to the positive changes that made this a great place to raise my family.”
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