Meet Sheriff Paul Miyamoto

Sheriff Paul Miyamoto, the first Asian American sheriff elected in San Francisco's 173-year history, assumed office on January 8, 2020. A fourth-generation native San Franciscan, he joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1996 and swiftly ascended through the ranks, working in jails, patrol, investigations, training, and as a member of the Emergency Services Unit and the Special Response Team. As the Sheriff, he oversees San Francisco’s jails, as well as key buildings such as the City’s courts, hospitals, and City Hall.

Sheriff Miyamoto, a graduate of Lowell High School and the University of California, Davis, carries a family legacy of resilience. Inspired by his late father and extended family's triumph over adversity during the Japanese internment during World War II, he credits his success to the values instilled by his family.

The Sheriff is equally proud of his Chinese roots, inherited from his mother, and has been a dedicated member of the San Francisco Police Department's Lion Dance team for the Chinese New Year Parade since 2000. He participates in San Francisco’s annual Pistahan Parade every year, honoring his wife LeeAnn and their children’s Filipino heritage. He and LeeAnn, a former San Francisco Deputy Sheriff and San Francisco Police Officer, have been married for more than 23 years and have five children that include a set of triplets.