Past Sheriff of Yuma County

 

Sheriff Ralph Edward Ogden
Sheriff Ralph E. Ogden

Term Dates
January 1, 1993 - December 31, 1996
January 1, 1997 - December 31, 2000
January 1, 2001 - December 31, 2004
January 1, 2005 - December 31, 2008
January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2012
 

Ralph Edward Ogden was born in Salem, Massachusetts. He attended schools in Bethel, Maine andSheriff Ralph Ogden logo graduated from the Gould Academy in 1965. Ogden became a resident of Arizona in 1966 during his tenure with the United States Marine Corps. He began his law enforcement career with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office on August 24, 1970 after completing four years of service in the Marine Corps.

Ogden’s distinguished 42 year career began as a dispatcher and jailer in Parker. He was promoted to Deputy in July 1971. In February 1975, he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to Wellton to become the area commander. His next promotion came in November 1980, when he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.

In January 1981, Ogden became the Chief Deputy for the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and served in that position until December 1992. He successfully campaigned for the office of Sheriff of Yuma County in 1992 and took the oath of office in January 1993. He served 5 terms (20 years) as Sheriff—the longest in Yuma’s history.

Ogden had an extensive education in law enforcement. He graduated from the FBI National Academy 120th Session in 1980, the National Sheriff’s Institute in 1983, the Arizona Law Enforcement Officer Advisory Council in 1985, and the Southwest Command College in 1996.

Over his 20 years as sheriff, he served as a member of numerous criminal justice organizations on a national, federal and state level. Some of the national and/or federal organizations he served on included the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council Security Task Force, the National Center Missing Exploited Children, the National Sheriff’s Association, the Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition, and the Western States Sheriff’s Association. He served as Chairman of the Law Enforcement Subcommittee of the National Association of Counties Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee, and the Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition.

Some of the state organizations that Ogden served on included the Arizona Homeland Security Operation Stone Garden Oversight Committee, Arizona Substance Abuse Prevention Council, Policia Internacional Arizona-Sonora (PISA), Governor’s Border Task Force, and the Southwestern Border Violence Task Force. Ogden served terms as president of the Arizona Sheriff’s Association, the Arizona County Attorney and Sheriff’s Association, and the Arizona Association of Counties; Chairman of the Arizona Auto Theft Authority, Arizona Southwest High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Board of Directors, and the Arizona Homeland Security Coordinating Council; and Vice Chairman of the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission.

Ogden was an active member of the community and served as a member of numerous local organizations including the Amberly’s Place Executive Board, American Red Cross, Caballeros de Yuma, Emergency Management Advisory Council, Hospice of Yuma, Local Area Planning Committee, Select Council on Progressive Enforcement (SCOPE), United Way, Yuma Area Ag Council, Yuma Masonic Lodge and the Yuma County Fair Board, to name a few.

Ogden was a lifetime member of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Posse and the Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition. After his retirement, he continued to represent the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Leon Wilmot as a Liaison Officer with the Southwestern Border Sheriff’s Coalition.

Retired Sheriff Ralph E. Ogden passed away on March 1, 2017 at the age of 70. He was dedicated to his family, friends and the community that he served and loved. He left a legacy with the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and this community that will live on forever. He made a difference.

 

Following are newspaper articles regarding Sheriff Ralph Ogden:

 
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