The Honorable Gary Grimes was appointed by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on May 13, 2024, to serve as the United States Marshal (USM) for the Western District of Arkansas (W/AR).
USM Grimes is responsible for the management, administration, and direction of operations throughout the W/AR. His responsibilities as the USM include leading and directing a staff whose core missions include security and protection of the United States Courts, criminal investigations, fugitive apprehension, execution of federal court orders and other law enforcement activities.
USM Grimes began his law enforcement career in 1970, as a Deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department in Hillsboro, Missouri. He moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1979 while working as a Criminal Investigator for the Burlington Northern Railroad. In 1986, USM Grimes became an Investigator for the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office. He was elected Sheriff of Sebastian County in 1989 and served in that capacity until 1999. In 2006, Arkansas Governor-Elect Mike Beebe selected USM Grimes to serve as Liaison to Law Enforcement and Emergency Management, a position he held until 2011. As Liaison, he over-saw the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the Arkansas Crime Lab, worked closely with local Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police, and monitored legislation related to law enforcement and criminal justice. USM Grimes was a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform and helped draft and pass Act 570, The Arkansas Public Safety Improvement Act, as well as the establishment of the Arkansas Trauma System.
USM Grimes has served Fort Smith, the Sebastian County community, and the State of Arkansas throughout his career as a member of numerous boards and committees, including the Arkansas Crime Information Center, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Arkansas Association of Counties, and the United States Marshals Museum. He served on the 12th Judicial District Criminal Detention Review Committee at the appointment of Arkansas Governor Beebe, and later as Chair, at the request of Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. USM Grimes is a former chairperson of the Fort Smith Airport Commission.
USM Grimes attended Jefferson Junior College in 1972, where he studied Criminal Law and Criminal Justice. He graduated from the Greater St. Louis Police Academy in 1975.