Susan Pamerleau
| Sheri Susan Lewellyn Pamerleau | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sheriff of Bexar County, Texas | |
|
Assumed office January 1, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Amadeo Ortiz |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1945 Oklahoma, specific location missing |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater |
University of Wyoming |
| Religion | Christian Church |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Air Force |
| Rank | Major General |
Susan Lewellyn Pamerleau (born 1945) is a retired United States Air Force major general, and the current Republican sheriff of Bexar County, which includes her adopted city of San Antonio, Texas.
Pamerleau is the daughter of the late Disciples of Christ minister Truce Pamerleau and the former Mary Nelle Lewellyn. She is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. Susan Pamerleau was promoted to Brigadier general (United States) in 1994 and to Major general (United States) in 1997. Her first billet as a USAF general officer was as Commandant of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. After retiring from thirty-two years of service with the Air Force in 2007, Parmerleau was elected the first woman sheriff of Bexar County five years later in 2012.
A self-described average student, Pamerleau received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Wyoming at Laramie in 1968 (GPA 2.65) and an M.P.A. from Golden Gate University in 1997.[1][2][3][4]
Reelection campaign, 2016
Pamerleau ran unopposed on March 1, 2016, in her bid for renomination as her party's candidate for a second term as sheriff in the Republican primary election. Four Democrats, Charles "Chazz" Cervantes, Javier Orlando Salazar, Matt Ninan, and Andy Lopez, competed in their party's primary for the right to challenge Pamerleau in the November 8 general election. All four challengers cited Pamerleau for allegedly low department morle and overworked deputies. Each pledged if elected to revamp policies and to reorganize the sheriff's staff. A runoff election will be held on May 24[5] between the top two candidates, Salazar and Lopez, for the right to challenge Pamerleau. A member of the San Antonio Police Department since 1993, Salazar carries the endorsement of the Deputy Sheriff's Association of Bexar County and the Combined Law Enforcement Associtions of Texas. The deputies' association claims that Salazar can improve morale within the department and rectify grievances that some deputies hold against Pamerleau.[6]
The Deputy Sheriff's Association of Bexar County endorsed Salazar even prior to the runoff election with Lopez. Association president Juan Contreras said that the morale of deputies is "totally low" and that many fear political retaliation were they to express their actual feelings against Sheriff Pamerleau. Contreras called the Salazar endorsement "a vote of no-confidence in the sheriff". The San Antonio Police Department union similarly gave a "no-confidence" vote to Chief William McManus, who holds an appointed municipal position.[7]
Medals and decorations
Here are some medals and decorations held by Maj. Gen. Pamerleau:
 |
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |
 |
Defense Superior Service Medal |
 |
Legion of Merit |
 |
Meritorious Service Medal (United States) |
 |
Air Force Commendation Medal |
 |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |
References
- ↑ "MAJOR GENERAL SUSAN L. PAMERLEAU > U.S. Air Force > Biography Display". af.mil. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
- ↑ "Sheriff Susan L. Pamerleau | Bexar County, TX - Official Website". bexar.org. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
- ↑ "University of Wyoming | UWyo Magazine | A Lifetime of Dedicated Service". uwyo.edu. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
- ↑ "Joining Air Force Made Her Top Flight Major General Didn't Plan High-Flying Career - Spokesman.com - Aug. 3, 1997". spokesman.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
- ↑ John W. Gonzalez, "4 Dems challenge sheriff's first term in office: Pamerleau defends her work for change", San Antonio Express-News, February 7, 2016, pp. A3, A7
- ↑ John W. Gonzalez, "Deputies union snubs sheriff, backs Salazar: He also gets CLEAT endorsement", San Antonio Express-News, March 12, 2016, p. A4
- ↑ John MacCormack, "Sheriff is target of union members: Deputies start no-confidence vote against Pamerleau", San Antonio Express-News, April 17, 2016, p. A3