Sheriff Scott A. Steward Retires, Darrell Steward Becomes New Sheriff of Park County
Written by Caleb Nelson on January 6, 2023
Sheriff Scott A Steward Retires
Sheriff Scott A. Steward’s fourth and final term came to an end on January 2nd, 2023. After 17 years as Sheriff, he intends to meet new challenges head on as a Park County Commissioner.
Sheriff Steward grew up in Park County, graduating from Cody High School in 1985. He then joined the United States Marine Corps and served proudly until returning home in 1990. He worked as a mechanic/wrecker operator until he began his law enforcement career with the sheriff’s office on September 17th, 1991. Next, Steward advanced throughout the ranks of the Sheriff’s Office from dispatcher to detention deputy, eventually becoming Sheriff in 2005.
Along the way he was promoted to lieutenant and eventually “undersheriff” to then Sheriff Dave Doyle. During his tenure Sheriff, Steward also served on the Wyoming Search and Rescue Council for fifteen years, four as council chairman. He has always been an avid supporter of Park County’s Search and Rescue Unit and he has worked alongside multiple agencies, implemented innovative ideas to the Sheriff’s Office and served his staff and the citizens of Park County faithfully, a recent press release states.
Sheriff Scott A Steward
In his statement announcing his retirement he said, “throughout my career I continually patrolled in uniform, ready to respond to support my law enforcement brethren when the need arose. I am very proud of that. So, today I announce my retirement from law enforcement but not without sadness and reservation. I would not trade the past thirty years for anything. I was born and raised in Park County and plan to continue to serve its people to the best of my ability in order to maintain the future of the Park County that we all love. Thank you all for the years of support and confidence you have shown me.”
And he has done just that as he was seated as Park County Commissioner the morning of January 3rd, 2023.
Sheriff Steward comes from a family with a history of service to the residents of Park County. His father served as a patrol sergeant for the city of Cody and his brothers are currently in public service, one as the new Sheriff of Park County and the other is a retired volunteer for the Cody Fire Department and now serves on the Park County Fire District #2 Board.
His stepson also volunteers with the Park County Search and Rescue Unit. While his leadership and teachings to the Sheriff’s Office will be missed, his entire staff wish him the best as he continues his path of service to Park County.
Sheriff Darrell Steward
On January 3rd, 2023, Darrell Steward was seated as Sheriff of Park County Wyoming after thirty-five years of Law Enforcement.
Sheriff Darrell Steward
Growing up in Cody Wyoming with two brothers and a Cody Police Department Sergeant as a father (and a giant backyard full of hunting and fishing), Darrell has never had the desire to leave this area. Throughout high school he worked in construction and continued that work after he graduated in 1982. In August of 1987, he started with the Park County Sheriff’s Office as a Detention Deputy. In 1988, he took a position with the Cody Police Department where he was eventually promoted to Detective. He also joined the Cody Fire Department that year becoming an arson investigator.
He left both in 2003 to begin the longest stretch of his Law Enforcement career and the only one that would take him away from home for a short stint.
Importantly, in the spring of 1988, he met Lynn, his wife of over thirty years. They have two sons who grew up in Park County and now, in turn, are building their lives there as well.
In December of 2003, Darrell became Special Agent Darrell Steward for the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). It was then he left his beloved home and relocated with his family to Riverton, Wyoming from 2004 until 2006. While Riverton was a wonderful place that they did enjoy, it was not home to Darrell and his family. So, when given the opportunity to transfer back to Park County, the answer was “immediately yes.”
During his time with DCI, he worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and many state, county, and municipal agencies. On May 11th, 2022, he retired from DCI and launched his campaign to come back to the Park County Sheriff’s Office, this time as Sheriff.
Darrell brings to the Sheriff’s Office a wealth of knowledge and the opportunity for advancement of the investigative capabilities of this agency. His experience with major crimes and drug cases can now be passed on to another generation of Law Enforcement.
“His goals are simple but noble nonetheless, serve Park County, protect the peace and safety of this community, treat all citizens with dignity and respect, and continue to keep the Park County Sheriff’s Office the remarkable agency it already is,” the Sheriff’s Office writes.
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