Sheriff Jose Quiroz of Arlington County may have taken office in January 2023, but his journey with the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office began over two decades ago. A lifelong Arlingtonian, Sheriff Quiroz’s career in public service is rooted in his deep commitment to the community he calls home. From his early days as a U.S. Marine to his current role as sheriff, Quiroz has dedicated his life to serving others with integrity, compassion, and a drive to make a lasting impact. In this month’s Spotlight, he shares insights into his career, leadership approach, and vision for the future of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office.
Background and Career
- Can you share your journey to becoming sheriff in Arlington County? What inspired you to pursue a career in law enforcement?
I was raised in Arlington County and attended elementary, middle and high school in Arlington County. After serving 4 years in the USMC, I decided to go from serving my country to my local community. I joined the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office the day before our country was attacked on 9/11/01. Both of my parents were active in the community, and I was inspired by them to serve and help people.
- What challenges did you face during your journey, and how did you overcome them?
Luckily, I had a strong upbringing and with my experience in the military, transitioning to law enforcement was not that difficult. I can’t think of any challenges that I faced that weren’t manageable, I think growing from learned experiences and learning from mentors is important.
Leadership and Community Engagement
- As sheriff, how do you approach community engagement and building trust between law enforcement and diverse communities in Arlington?
I believe you need to know your community and reach out to them by being approachable and accessible. There are many folks in my community that have access to county leaders and are very involved, but there are also many community members that don’t know how to reach elected leaders. I am very involved with community events and make it a point to meet as many new people as possible, so they know who I am and how to reach me if they need anything from the sheriff’s office.
- What initiatives have you implemented to enhance relations with the Latino community and other minority groups?
One of my key initiatives as sheriff is community engagement. I have put a lot of emphasis on building relationships and my staff know that this is a priority for me. I assigned one of my deputies that is bilingual to work with the county police department’s community engagement team. Some of the projects we have worked on so far are enhancing our social media presence, starting a quarterly community newsletter, redesigning our website, and we recently had one of our sheriff vehicles wrapped with a community engagement theme.
Law Enforcement Priorities
- What are your top priorities as sheriff, and how do you plan to address the specific needs of Arlington County?
My top priorities are
1) The wellness and development of my staff
2) Community engagement
3) Running a safe and progressive jail focused on rehabilitation
As the sheriff and the leader of my office, I understand that the well-being and development of my staff is critical. They are the foundation of my success, so caring about them and building them up is important. I recently started a mentorship program for staff, and I also added a wellness K9 named Hope for my staff. I am also very aware that pay and benefits are important, so I am always advocating for my staff regarding pay.
I am also very committed to ensuring I provide meaningful rehabilitative opportunities and programs to the inmates in the jail. Many of them will return to our community and ensuring we did as much as possible to not only ensure they are successful and not return to jail, but that their families are successful and can have a productive and meaningful life, that is important to me.
- How do you see the role of the sheriff’s office evolving in response to current public safety challenges?
I see tremendous potential in the role of sheriff. The community has a lot of respect for sheriffs, not only because you are elected by your community, but because you are there to protect your community and listen to your community. Most of my staff are law enforcement certified as well as court security, jail and civil process certified. My staff is capable and willing to support our community when called upon, and that is a benefit to not just the community but to our local police department.
VSA Experience
- As a new member of the Virginia Sheriff’s Association, what has your experience been like so far, and what insights have you gained from your colleagues?
I was welcomed with open arms by the VSA staff and my fellow sheriffs. I have a huge amount of respect for my fellow sheriffs, whether we are a few miles away or hundreds of miles away, whether we agree on everything or disagree on things, we are one team! I have already gained so much valuable information from meeting the other 122 sheriffs in Virginia.
- As a new Regional Director on the VSA Board, what goals do you hope to achieve, and how do you plan to collaborate with other sheriffs to address regional concerns?
Two of my top goals are to address pay and wellness programs for sheriff’s office staff. I believe that there are many people who would enjoy the work we do but pay and work life balance and wellness are barriers that can hold people back from applying. I want to collaborate with other sheriffs, all in the spirit of making the office of sheriff stronger and I will bring my own perspective and experience of 23 years with the sheriff’s office to those conversations.
- What does it mean to you personally and professionally to serve as a role model for the Latino community and other underrepresented groups in law enforcement?
It is a tremendous honor to serve my community. All human beings want to feel represented and respected. I come from a family that worked very hard and cared about the community, which I now have the privilege to serve. There are many people that helped me to understand and appreciate service and I want to do the same for my community. I am especially committed to our youth; I really enjoy talking to kids and hopefully inspire them to never settle for what others think you should have but go out and make your own success.
10. How can law enforcement agencies in Virginia better promote diversity and inclusion within their ranks?
By having meaningful conversations with the rank and file, especially as we struggle with recruitment and retention. Even with all our differences as humans, I believe we have more that unites us than divides us. I strive to hire the best people because I want my office to represent my community which is very diverse. Arlington County provides many opportunities for these conversations so that employees feel valued and heard.
Vision for the Future
11. What is your vision for the future of the Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, and what steps are you taking to achieve that vision?
I have big plans and so much I want to accomplish as sheriff of Arlington County. I want the Arlington community to value and appreciate the work we do. I believe that it is my responsibility to educate the community and key stakeholders on why they should invest in the sheriff’s office. Funding, staffing, and community are at the top of my list. It is easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated, so having a strong team, clear plan and objectives is important.
12. How do you plan to engage with the next generation of Arlington residents?
I need to stay in the know of how different generations in Arlington communicate. I enjoy going to schools to talk to kids and also to retirement homes to talk to our senior citizens, and everyone in between. My office is very active on social media. I have a team of staff that create videos that appeal to the younger residents in Arlington. I also have traditional methods of communication such as a quarterly newsletter and I do a lot of in person meetings with civic associations and anyone who invites me to speak.
13. What advice would you give to young individuals aspiring to pursue a career in law enforcement?
Make sure that you are getting into this career because you want to help people. A career in law enforcement requires empathy, patience, courage and integrity to name just a few values. This career is very rewarding in the difference you can make in the community. You will need to communicate with people and a lot of the time, it’s with people that are in crisis.
Personal Interests
14. What hobbies or interests do you pursue outside of your role as sheriff? How do they help you maintain balance in your life?
I love music, all kinds, and genres. I am also a dog lover. I have 2 dogs and one of them is a grand champion. I also enjoy going to my kids’ sports games, supporting them and cheering them on.
15. Can you share a book, movie, or experience that has significantly influenced your leadership style or personal philosophy?
I am a firm believer in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey. The idea of the 7 habits every leader should live by, and they all encompass the idea of “maturity”. I am very interested in bringing more of that philosophy to my office.
Final Thoughts
16. Is there anything else you would like to share with the community or your fellow sheriffs in Virginia?
I never thought in a million years that I would be an elected sheriff in Virginia. It is truly a dream come true! I love my job and look forward to serving!
