About the Sheriff

Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot Yuma County, Arizona Yuma, AZ (928) 783-4427

Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot began his career in law enforcement in 1985 as a Reserve Deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, while serving as a Marine assigned to the Marine Corp Air Station Yuma. He was hired by the Sheriff’s Office as a full-time deputy on July 11, 1987, after completing four years of service in the United States Marine Corps. Wilmot’s first job as a public safety deputy was the start of what has now been a 40-year career of public service serving the citizens of Yuma County.

Expanding his resume two short years later, Wilmot was assigned to the Boating Safety Bureau for the next few years. In 1991, he was transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division where he was responsible for major crimes investigations. On January 5, 1993, he was promoted to the rank of Patrol Corporal and was assigned to oversee the Foothills District and the Boating Safety and Enforcement Unit.

On April 7, 1996, he was promoted to Public Safety Sergeant and was placed in charge of the Boating Safety and Enforcement Unit operations. On January 6, 1997, he was promoted again, this time to Bureau Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division where he supervised the Major Crimes Unit, the Methamphetamine Enforcement Unit and the deputies assigned to the Southwest Border Alliance Unit.

On April 19, 1998, he was promoted to the rank of Public Safety Lieutenant and was assigned the supervision of all the Sheriff’s Office support units—Evidence, Communications (Dispatch), Fleet Management, the Criminal Investigations Bureau, and the Emergency Operations Center. Wilmot’s next promotion came on September 3, 2001, to the rank of Public Safety Captain to oversee the Sheriff’s Office Patrol Bureau, where he was charged with overseeing all patrol related activities. On February 22, 2004, he was promoted to Chief Deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and served in that position until his retirement in September 2012.

Some of his professional accomplishments as Chief Deputy include the restructuring of the Southwest Border Alliance drug task force to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force. Sheriff Wilmot was also instrumental in overseeing the restructuring of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Posse and, with the collaboration of local law enforcement agencies, was instrumental in successfully implementing a Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement between Imperial County California and Yuma County.

In 2012, Wilmot successfully campaigned for the office of Sheriff of Yuma County and took the oath of office in January 2013. Sheriff Wilmot was re-elected to a second term in 2016, and a third term in 2020. He is currently serving his fourth term as Sheriff of Yuma County, having been re-elected in 2024.

Education

Sheriff Wilmot’s law enforcement education is expansive—graduating from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in 1994, the FBI National Academy in 2000, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Supervisor’s Course in 2005. In 2007, he completed the Certified Public Manager program through the Arizona State University. In addition, he has also attained the Professional Development designation through the Federal Emergency Management Agency by taking leadership classes in Emergency Management. Sheriff Wilmot also completed the National Sheriffs’ Institute 106th Session, Executive Level Management Education and Training in 2014.

Professional Organizational Memberships

Sheriff Wilmot is a member of numerous professional organizations, including:

• Arizona Association of Counties – Board of Directors (07/2025-present)
• Arizona County Attorneys’ and Sheriffs’ Association – past President
• Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety - Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement committee
• Arizona Sheriffs’ Association – past President (2 terms)
• Arizona State Legislative Committee Notification Board on Sex Offenders
• Deputy Sheriff’s Association
• Emergency Management Advisory Council
• Joint Border Security Advisory Committee
• National Rifle Association
• National Sheriffs’ Association
• Executive Committee (2023-present)
• Board of Directors (2017-present)
• Border Security Committee (2013-present)
• Policía Internacional Arizona-Sonora
• Select Council on Progressive Enforcement – past President (2 terms)
• Southwestern Border Sheriffs’ Coalition – past Chairman (09/2018-09/2020)
• Western States Sheriff’s Association – Executive Board; 2018-2019 Sheriff of the Year
• Yuma Area Ag Council
• Yuma County Local Emergency Planning Committee

On January 9, 2017, Sheriff Wilmot was appointed to the National Sheriffs’ Association Board of Directors, which represents all 3,080 sheriffs across the country and sets guidance and direction for the association. He was officially elected to the NSA Board of Directors by the NSA membership in June 2017 during the annual conference. In addition to the NSA Board of Directors, Sheriff Wilmot was appointed to serve on the NSA Executive Committee and was officially sworn in on February 3, 2023.

Sheriff Wilmot is also currently serving as a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association Border Security Committee; the Southwestern Border Sheriffs’ Coalition; the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety “Oversight Council on Driving or Operating Under the Influence Abatement” committee; and the Arizona Association of Counties (AACO) Board of Directors.

Sheriff Wilmot is also an active member of the Western State Sheriffs’ Association (WSSA). On March 6, 2019, he was presented with the WSSA 2018-2019 Sheriff of the Year award during their Annual Conference. In July 2019, Sheriff Wilmot was elected by the Arizona Sheriffs to be their state representative on the Western States Sheriffs’ Association Executive Board.

Sheriff Wilmot has served as the past Chairman of the National Sheriffs’ Association Border Security Committee; past Chairman of the Southwestern Border Sheriffs’ Coalition; past President of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association, having served two terms (2015-2016); past President of the Arizona County Attorneys’ and Sheriffs’ Association; past Vice President of the Arizona Sheriffs’ Association; past Treasurer and past Secretary of the Southwest Border Sheriffs’ Coalition; and past Sheriffs’ Representative on the Arizona Association of Counties (AACO) Executive Board and the AACO Legislative Policy Committee.

On November 16, 2021, Sheriff Wilmot was inducted into the Arizona Western College Hall of Fame. Established in 2011, the AWC Hall of Fame honors alumni, former students, faculty and community leaders who have made a major contribution to the mission and goals of Arizona Western College.

Community Organizational Memberships

Sheriff Wilmot is also a member of numerous local organizations, including:

• Amberly’s Place (Executive Board member)
• American Legion, Post 19
• Arizona Town Hall
• Arizona Western College – Hall of Fame Inductee
• Caballeros de Yuma
• Military Affairs Committee
• Military Vehicle Preservation Association
• Model A Ford Club of America
• Model A Restorers Club
• Single Action Shooting Society
• U.S. Practical Pistol Association
• White Mountain Range Riders
• Yuma County Chamber of Commerce
• Yuma County Fair Board - Community Liaison
• Yuma County Sheriff’s Posse
• Yuma Masonic Lodge #17
• Yuma MatchMasters
• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club

Life & Hobbies

Sheriff Wilmot is married to Ruth Wilmot who retired after 35 years of teaching with the Yuma School District #1. One of his hobbies is restoring old vehicles. His first restoration project was a 1953 M38A1 U.S. Army Military Police Jeep. Another of his previous projects was the restoration of a 1929 Model A, Model 290A standard police vehicle. His most recent project was the restoration of a 1968 M725 U.S. Army ambulance, which was a three year project having completed the restoration in early 2021.

Sheriff Wilmot has participated in local car club shows sponsored by Nostalgia Car Club, Mi Vida, La Raza, Uniques, and Christian Rods and Cruisers with the Model A to help raise funds for local nonprofit organizations. He has received several awards for the Model A to include first place in the 2010 Police Vehicle Design Contest, Best Vintage Police Cars category.

Click link to view article from the August 2010 Law and Order magazine: 2010 Police Vehicle Design Contest Winners: Best Vintage Police Cars

Sheriff Wilmot also enjoys participating in the local parades with the Model A, and the military Jeep and ambulance.

In 2012, Sheriff Wilmot discovered sand drag racing and purchased a Jeep, which he named “Blue Mule II”. When time permits, he enjoys participating in local sand drags as well as national events. During the 2015 Avenal Sand Drags Fall Nationals, he earned runner-up finishes in two classes. Sheriff Wilmot donated the winnings from the Avenal Sand Drags to the Coalinga Roughneck Wrestling Team who was raising money for their wrestling camp. Click link to view article from Sand Sports magazine: Sand Drag Scene - 2015 Avenal Sand Drags Fall Nationals

Page Updated: 10/10/2025