New county officials sworn in

Jen Lawson

Monday, Jan. 6, 2003 | 11:13 a.m.

Bill Young, who rose through the ranks during his 24 years with Metro Police, took over as sheriff this morning, saying he's excited to begin his new job.

Municipal Judge George Assad conducted the five-minute swearing-in ceremony at Police Memorial Rock outside Metro's headquarters at Las Vegas City Hall as more than 100 police officers, city employees and Young's friends and relatives looked on. The outgoing sheriff, Jerry Keller, also attended.

More people watched the ceremony through windows of City Hall's 10-story building and could be seen clapping.

About 15 minutes later at the county building, new County Commissioners Mark James and Rory Reid were sworn in before the commission meeting this morning.

Outside Metro headquarters, Young hugged and kissed his three sons, Bill, Brian and Chris, daughter, Cara, and wife, Sandy, and thanked everyone for coming out on such a blustery day.

"I look so forward to serving the people of Clark County," Young told the crowd. "We're going to have some fun over the next four years."

Young, 46, started with Metro as a patrol officer and was most recently a deputy chief in charge of special operations and homeland security. He also worked in vice-narcotics, support services and SWAT.