Vicky Hennessy Sworn In As First Female Sheriff Of San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Newly-elected San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy was sworn in at San Francisco City Hall Friday morning as the city's 35th sheriff and the first woman to hold the office.
"There is a new sheriff in town" San Francisco Assembly member David Chui said, speaking at the ceremony.
"It really is a fine thing that is taking place this morning for me as the first woman mayor to swear in the first woman sheriff," U.S. Senator and former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein said before administering the oath of office to Hennessy.
San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, former Mayor Willie Brown, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Senator Mark Leno were among those in attendance.
During her speech, Sheriff Hennessy said she would dedicate her term to restoring leadership to the department, while employing humanity and compassion.
"That means the buck stops with me. That means I'm the leader and I'm the one that has to make this happen," Hennessy said.
Hennessy, who was born and raised in San Francisco, joined the sheriff's department in 1975. She was a member of the sheriff's department's executive management team for 25 years and has served in every division of the department, according to Hennessy's office.
Hennessey served as the city's interim sheriff in 2012. Mayor Ed Lee appointed her after he suspended Sheriff Mirkarimi on official misconduct charges as a result of domestic violence allegations.
Mirkarimi later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment and was sentenced to probation. He was reinstated as sheriff in October 2012 when the 11-member Board of Supervisors did not reach the nine votes necessary under the City Charter to remove him from office, but failed to win reelection in November.
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