Sherman Block
Encyclopedia
Sherman Block was the 29th Sheriff
of Los Angeles County, California
from January 1982 until his death.
He was preceded by Peter Pitchess and succeeded by Lee Baca
.
Block grew up in Chicago
and served in the Army in World War II
. He majored in engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. He moved to Los Angeles and joined the Sheriff's Department in 1956, becoming the first deputy in the department to work his way through every rank to the top.
During his tenure he became the highest paid elected official in the United States.
He died during his re-election campaign which he was expected to win. He still obtained about one third of the vote, as Lee Baca's opponents wanted the County Supervisors to appoint his successor. Block's death broke the tradition of the incumbent Sheriff selecting his successor.
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
from January 1982 until his death.
He was preceded by Peter Pitchess and succeeded by Lee Baca
Lee Baca
Leroy David "Lee" Baca is the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California. Baca holds a Doctorate of Public Administration from the University of Southern California....
.
Block grew up in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and served in the Army in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He majored in engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. He moved to Los Angeles and joined the Sheriff's Department in 1956, becoming the first deputy in the department to work his way through every rank to the top.
During his tenure he became the highest paid elected official in the United States.
He died during his re-election campaign which he was expected to win. He still obtained about one third of the vote, as Lee Baca's opponents wanted the County Supervisors to appoint his successor. Block's death broke the tradition of the incumbent Sheriff selecting his successor.