Peter J. Pitchess
Born February 26, 1912, in Salt Lake City Utah, Sheriff Peter Pitchess graduated from the
University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1938 and a Juris Doctor Degree in
1940. He received the Doctor of Laws Degree, Honoris Causa, from Los Angeles Pacific
College in 1963, and the Doctor of Laws Degree, Honoris Causa, from Pepperdine University
in 1976. The Sheriff received the Doctor of Philanthropy from the Los Angeles Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America in 1978.
Sheriff Pitchess entered the Federal
Bureau of Investigation upon
completing his formal education
and served 12 years as a special agent
on assignments
throughout the country.
He was appointed undersheriff of
Los Angeles County in April 1953 and
successfully campaigned for the first
of six terms as Sheriff of the county
in 1958.
On June 10, 1981 Sheriff Pitchess
publicly announced that he would
not seek a seventh term as Sheriff.
In that same announcement he stated
that he was encouraging
Undersheriff Sherman Block to
seek the office as his successor.
By the end of the year the Sheriff had
decided that he would not even finish out his term. On January 17, 1982, Peter J. Pitchess,
after being elected to six consecutive terms as Sheriff, officially stepped down. On his
recommendation, the Board of Supervisors unanimously selected Sherman Block to succeed
him.
Four months later Block was elected to his own term as Sheriff.
Born February 26, 1912, in Salt Lake City Utah, Sheriff Peter Pitchess graduated from the
University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1938 and a Juris Doctor Degree in
1940. He received the Doctor of Laws Degree, Honoris Causa, from Los Angeles Pacific
College in 1963, and the Doctor of Laws Degree, Honoris Causa, from Pepperdine University
in 1976. The Sheriff received the Doctor of Philanthropy from the Los Angeles Area Council,
Boy Scouts of America in 1978.
Sheriff Pitchess entered the Federal
Bureau of Investigation upon
completing his formal education
and served 12 years as a special agent
on assignments
throughout the country.
He was appointed undersheriff of
Los Angeles County in April 1953 and
successfully campaigned for the first
of six terms as Sheriff of the county
in 1958.
On June 10, 1981 Sheriff Pitchess
publicly announced that he would
not seek a seventh term as Sheriff.
In that same announcement he stated
that he was encouraging
Undersheriff Sherman Block to
seek the office as his successor.
By the end of the year the Sheriff had
decided that he would not even finish out his term. On January 17, 1982, Peter J. Pitchess,
after being elected to six consecutive terms as Sheriff, officially stepped down. On his
recommendation, the Board of Supervisors unanimously selected Sherman Block to succeed
him.
Four months later Block was elected to his own term as Sheriff.
