Kacey Bates steps into Summit County sheriff role with focus on community and mental health

The swearing in ceremony for Summit County Sheriff Kacey Bates at the Summit County Courthouse in Coalville. Photo: TownLift//Randi Sidman-Moore

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah – When Kacey Bates took her oath as Summit County’s new sheriff, she brought with her nearly three decades of law enforcement experience — all of it in the same department she now leads. For Bates, the milestone felt less like a leap and more like the next step in a lifelong progression.

“For me, this just feels like natural progression,” Bates said in a recent interview with TownLift. “I’ve been in every division in the sheriff’s office. I’ve held several specialty assignments, I’ve tested, I’ve promoted — and so it just feels natural. Summit County is my home, and it always will be. I feel honored and very appreciative to be sitting here as sheriff.”

Bates’ appointment marks an historic first: she is the first woman to serve as Summit County sheriff, and only the second woman in Utah to hold the position. But she doesn’t dwell on that distinction.

“It’s something that took me off guard the first time I was asked about it,” she said. “I don’t see it that way. When I started here, I was one of the first five women hired to work in this building. For me, this feels like a continuation of what I’ve always done. I’ve always wanted to be here because of my qualifications.”

While women remain a minority in law enforcement, Bates said her experience within Summit County has been largely positive. She’s worked under four sheriffs and says she’s always felt supported.

“I understand that there are challenges women face in law enforcement, but that hasn’t been my experience,” she said. “Of course, I’ve had challenges, but I don’t believe they’ve been different from anyone else’s.”

Continuing a legacy of leadership

Bates succeeds former Sheriff Frank Smith, who retired earlier this year after stepping into the role in 2023. She called Smith “a tough act to follow,” but said his mentorship — and the leadership of previous sheriffs including Justin Martinez — helped shape her approach.

“You take bits and pieces from everybody you’ve worked for,” she said. “You pick the qualities you admire and integrate them into what you want to see in the future.”

Bates said one of her priorities is maintaining the department’s strong culture of community engagement and trust, something she attributes to her predecessors.

“When I was a rookie, it meant a lot to me that the sheriff knew my name,” she said. “I want to be approachable like that. People need to feel that connection.”

She also emphasized the importance of empowering deputies to take ownership of their work.

“You have to let people do what you’ve trained them to do,” Bates said. “That’s a big part of leadership — trusting your team.”

A focus on mental health and rehabilitation

Among Bates’ top priorities as sheriff is expanding the county’s ability to address mental health challenges within the criminal justice system.

The current Summit County Jail, which opened in 1998, lacks a dedicated space for inmates experiencing mental health crises or substance withdrawal. Bates hopes to change that.

“I would like the ability to expand a wing onto our correctional facility where we can hold people who are in crisis and give them resources here, within Summit County,” she said. “Right now, we often have to rely on other counties to house those individuals.”

Bates said the expansion would also allow the sheriff’s office to provide more effective reentry support for those leaving jail.

“When I was jail commander, I focused on programming because programming helps reduce recidivism,” she said. “But it’s not just about what happens while someone’s incarcerated. We need to identify what they need when they get out — and make sure they know where to find those resources.”

She added that helping people transition successfully after incarceration is critical to breaking cycles of crime and mental health crises.

“It’s really easy when you’re incarcerated — your schedule is set, programs are available,” Bates said. “But when you leave, you’re on your own. I want to make sure people know where to go so we don’t see that cycle repeat.”

A county of contrasts

Summit County presents unique challenges for law enforcement. From the quiet agricultural stretches of the East Side to the bustling ski resorts of Park City, deputies are tasked with responding to vastly different types of calls — sometimes within the same shift.

“It’s a unique county,” Bates said. “We have rural communities and we have tourist areas. But no matter where someone lives, they should be treated the same. We take a community-centric approach, and that’s what I want to continue.”

Her department also covers a sprawling jurisdiction that sometimes requires crossing into Wyoming just to reach certain parts of the county.

“We’re the size of Vermont,” she said with a laugh. “There are even times when we have to go through Wyoming to get to calls on the other side of Summit County.”

Despite the logistical challenges, Bates said she’s confident in her team’s ability to adapt.

“We prepare for all situations,” she said. “When something unique happens, we debrief and we train for it. That’s how we stay ready.”

Grounded in community

After nearly three decades in uniform, Bates’ motivation remains rooted in the same thing that brought her to law enforcement in the first place — service to her community.

“I love this job,” she said. “I’m deeply invested in this community. When you stop loving what you do, you shouldn’t do it anymore. But I still love what I do — and I’m honored to be able to keep serving the people of Summit County.”