Clackamas County

On Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge Michael C. Wetzel swore in James Rhodes as the 34th Sheriff of Clackamas County, Oregon.

The Board of Clackamas County Commissioners appointed James Rhodes Sheriff on Tuesday, July 28, following the retirement of Sheriff Angela Brandenburg on July 27. Brandenburg served five-and-a-half years as Clackamas County Sheriff.

Sheriff Rhodes began his career in law enforcement as a Reserve Officer with the Oregon City Police Department, where he was later hired as a Police Officer. In 1997, he was hired as a Deputy Sheriff with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office. He was promoted to Detective in 2007, to Sergeant in 2009, and Lieutenant in March 2012. From August 2013 to February 2014, he served as Chief of Police for the City of Wilsonville, which contracts with the Sheriff’s Office for dedicated police service. Rhodes also served as Chief Deputy, Undersheriff, and Captain of the Patrol, Civil, and Investigations Divisions. Over the course of his career, his CCSO assignments have included Patrol, Search and Rescue, the Special Investigations Unit, the Child Abuse Team, the Robbery Unit, Field Training, the Public Information Office, and contract service work with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, among many other duties.

Following his retirement from CCSO in 2021, Rhodes continued his public service on committees including the Clackamas County Vector Control District (CCVCD), the Enhanced Law Enforcement District (ELED) Advisory Board, and the Clackamas County Budget Committee. He is an Eagle Scout.