If you’ve lived in Pinal County for more than five minutes, you know that the Sheriff’s badge carries a lot of weight around here. It’s not just about patrol cars and paperwork; it’s about the person who stands between the desert silence and the growing suburban sprawl of San Tan Valley and Maricopa. For the first time in nearly a decade, we’ve got a new face at the helm.
The Pinal County sheriff election results from late 2024 finally settled a high-stakes transition. Republican Ross Teeple didn't just win; he dominated. He stepped into the massive shoes left by Mark Lamb, a man who became a national conservative icon. Teeple took home roughly 63.5% of the vote, leaving his Democratic challenger, Patrick Melvin, with about 36%.
It wasn't even close.
But if you think this was just a simple hand-off, you haven't been paying attention to the local drama. Behind those percentages is a story of primary challenges, internal promotions, and a county that is changing faster than the maps can keep up with.
The Teeple Takeover: How a "Lieu" Became the Top Cop
Ross Teeple isn't some outsider brought in to shake things up. Honestly, he’s as "PCSO" as they come. Before he was sworn in as the 25th Sheriff of Pinal County on January 1, 2025, he’d spent 17 years climbing the ranks within the department. We’re talking about a guy who started in the Navy, worked corrections for a dozen years, and then did everything from Search and Rescue to Internal Affairs.
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People liked that.
His opponent, Patrick Melvin, had a resume that looked great on paper—he was the first police chief of Maricopa—but he struggled to overcome the "internal favorite" momentum Teeple carried. During the campaign, both guys took shots at each other’s experience. Melvin claimed Teeple lacked top-tier management "CEO" experience, while Teeple's supporters basically said Melvin was a "job jumper" who didn't know the specific grit of Pinal County's unincorporated stretches.
The Primary That Almost Broke the Internet (Or at Least the Board of Supervisors)
The real fireworks actually happened before the general election. Remember Kevin Cavanaugh? He’s a Pinal County Supervisor who decided he wanted the badge too. When Teeple crushed him in the Republican primary (getting about 64% to Cavanaugh’s 31%), things got weird.
Cavanaugh didn't go quietly. He claimed there was "strong evidence of cheating" because early vote percentages and Election Day percentages were too similar. He even voted "aye under duress" to certify the results. The Arizona Attorney General eventually looked into it, but the "suspicious patterns" didn't turn into anything substantial. It was a messy chapter that left a few scars on the local GOP, but it solidified Teeple as the chosen successor.
Why Mark Lamb Didn't Just Run Again
You might be wondering: Wait, why didn't Mark Lamb just stay? Lamb had his sights set on bigger things. He jumped into the U.S. Senate race, trying to take on Kari Lake in the primary. It was a bold move, but it didn't pan out. He lost to Lake, who then lost to Ruben Gallego.
By the time the dust settled on the Senate race, the window for the Sheriff's office was closed. Lamb spent his final days in office dealing with some headaches over a nonprofit he started, the American Sheriff Foundation. It turned out some filings were missed, and the IRS ended up revoking its tax-exempt status.
It was a bit of a bumpy exit for a guy who was usually untouchable in the polls. He signed off for the last time on New Year's Eve 2024, handing the reins over to Teeple in a ceremony that felt more like a family passing down an heirloom.
What the Numbers Actually Tell Us
Pinal County is growing. Fast.
The turnout for this election was about 74.86%. That’s almost identical to the 2020 turnout percentage-wise, but the sheer volume of voters was much higher because of the population boom.
- Ross Teeple (R): ~134,000 votes
- Patrick Melvin (D): ~76,000 votes
- Total Ballots Cast: 211,595
Teeple's victory path was paved by the "Lamb Legacy," but also by a voter base that is increasingly wary of the border issues and rural crime. Pinal is huge—about the size of Connecticut—and voters clearly wanted someone who already knew where the remote trailheads and hidden desert roads were.
What Happens Now?
Sheriff Teeple has already been busy. He didn't waste time cleaning house; instead, he did the opposite. He promoted from within. Undersheriff Bryan Harrell and Deputy Chiefs Gilberto Hoyos and Jason Villegas are all veterans of the department.
His focus is basically "business as usual, but better." He’s got to manage nearly 500 employees and a county that feels the pressure of the border despite not being right on the line. He’s also inheriting a brand-new helicopter and some pretty high expectations.
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Actionable Insights for Pinal Residents
If you’re living in Casa Grande, Florence, or Maricopa, here’s what you should keep an eye on:
- Watch the Command Staff: Teeple is betting big on "internal culture." If the department stays stable, it means his strategy of promoting from within worked. If we see high turnover, there might be friction.
- The Budget Battle: Keep an eye on the Board of Supervisors meetings. With the county’s half-cent excise tax for roads recently renewed, the Sheriff’s office will be competing for general fund dollars as the population continues to explode.
- Community Outreach: Teeple isn't the social media powerhouse Mark Lamb was. He’s a bit more "old school." You’ll want to see how he engages with the newer residents in San Tan Valley who might not know the history of the PCSO.
The Pinal County sheriff election results weren't just a win for Ross Teeple; they were a vote for continuity. The county isn't ready to change its law enforcement philosophy just yet. Whether Teeple can "raise the bar" as he promised remains to be seen, but for now, the badge is exactly where the majority of Pinal wanted it.
Next Steps for You: You can stay updated on the Sheriff's latest initiatives by checking the official Pinal County Sheriff's Office website or attending the upcoming Board of Supervisors public hearings in Florence.