Oregon Public Broadcasting

Retired Sheriff Bob Skipper was sworn back into service today Monday in Multnomah County. His return comes as incumbent Sheriff Bernie Giusto prepares to step down. April Baer reports.

Bob Skipper

Giusto's fending off several claims of misconduct, and could lose his certification later this year.

He'll retire, and hand the sheriff's department over to Bob Skipper at the end of the month.

Between now and then, Skipper says he'll get re-acquainted with the sheriff's department.

He sees a lot of faces he knew from his tenure in the 90s. He predicts fiscal issues will rise to the top.

Bob Skipper: "It's trying to do more with less, as best you can -- trying to continue to work on the sick time issues, the overtime issues, and the expense of that."

Skipper was elected in 1989, but retired before the end of his term. Since then he says he's been running a nursery business, and spending time with his grandchildren.

He was designated as an emergency backup when Giusto was first elected.

He says he met with Multnomah County Chair Ted Wheeler, and expects a good working relationship with him and the other commissioners.