Beth Arthur
Class of 2001
As of July of 2000, Arlington had a new sheriff in town. Stepping into what had traditionally been a man’s world, Arthur was not only Arlington County’s first female sheriff (one who has been reelected four times since), she was the first woman in the state of Virginia to become a county sheriff, and the first woman to serve as president of the Virginia Sheriffs’ Association. Today she commands a staff of 280, manages a $44 million budget and oversees the Arlington County Detention Center—a facility which, by the way, both composts and recycles—where the population averages about 450 on any given day. Her team is now orchestrating a multi-agency readiness program that seeks to reduce recidivism by preparing offenders to reenter the community, housing and employment once they are released from jail.
“Financial constraints are making it hard for the county to fund all the services and amenities Arlingtonians have come to expect. In public safety, we need to increase pay if we want to stay competitive. There are tough choices to make.”—Beth Arthur
