Grimes nominated as next U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas

Former Sebastian County Sheriff Gary Grimes has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Arkansas. The nomination, announced Tuesday (Dec. 19), requires confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

The Western District of Arkansas includes 34 counties stretching from Texarkana and El Dorado to Fayetteville and Fort Smith.

Grimes owns Grimes & Associates, LLC, a law enforcement, security and government affairs consultancy that was founded in 2011. His law enforcement background includes being the liaison to Law Enforcement and Emergency Management for Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe from 2007 to 2011, a law enforcement officer in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, and Sheriff of Sebastian County from 1989 to 1999.

“Gary Grimes is a devoted public servant with a lifetime of dedication to safety and law enforcement. I am confident he will continue to build on his distinguished record serving Arkansas as a U.S. Marshal. I look forward to supporting him on the Senate floor,” U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., said in a statement.

In a statement sent to Talk Business & Politics, Grimes said it is a “privilege and profound responsibility” to be nominated.

“As U.S. Marshal, I will be honored to build upon this rich legacy, ensuring that our law enforcement efforts continue to evolve and adapt to the challenges of our time. Together with the dedicated men and women of the U.S. Marshals Service, I am committed to fostering a culture of excellence, accountability and community collaboration,” Grimes noted.

According to the Marshals Service, the duties of those in the service include protecting the federal judiciary, apprehending federal fugitives, managing and selling seized assets acquired by criminals through illegal activities, housing and transporting federal prisoners and operating the Witness Security Program.

“The United States Marshals Service occupies a uniquely central position in the federal justice system. It is the enforcement arm of the federal courts and is involved in virtually every federal law enforcement initiative,” according to the Marshals Service.