County Board appoints Interim Sheriff
On January 19, 2021, The Benton County Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint Undersheriff Jefri Van Arsdall from Baker County to fill the position of Interim Benton County Sheriff for the remainder of retired Sheriff Scott Jackson’s current term.
Van Arsdall has over twenty years of law enforcement experience. Sheriff Van Arsdall began his career with Washington County, Oregon as a reserve deputy, worked at the Corvallis Police Department from 2004 to 2015, earning the rank of Patrol Lieutenant, and joined Baker County Sheriff’s Office in 2017 and became Undersheriff in 2018.
Sheriff Jackson retired on February 1, 2021 after 25 years with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. Under the terms of the Benton County Charter, it falls to the Board of Commissioners to appoint someone for the position through the end of the position’s term if the vacancy occurs with less than half of the term remaining. The current term ends in January 2023.