201901.07
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Todd Spitzer sworn in as Orange County district attorney, Don Barnes as sheriff, in law enforcement leadership shakeup

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  • Outgoing Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, left, swears in Don Barnes, with his wife Marilyn, during a ceremony at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney-Elect Todd Spitzer, left, is joined by his daughter Lauren, center, as former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California, John A. Arguelles, right, administers the Oath of Office in a swearing-in ceremony in Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Deputy Dan McNamee with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard, gets ready for the swearing in ceremony of Don Barnes in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sheriff Lt. Michael McHenry attends the swearing in ceremony for Don Barnes, the 13th Sheriff of Orange County in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sheriff Don Barnes embraces U.S. Rep. Lou Correa during Barnes’ swearing-in ceremony as Sheriff on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sheriff Don Barnes addresses the audience after he takes the Oath of office in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sheriff Don Barnes addresses the audience after he takes the Oath of office as Orange County’s 13th Sheriff in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer holds up a statue of Lady Justice during his inaugural address during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A recruit makes some uniform adjustments before the swearing-in ceremony for incoming Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Former Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates attends the swearing-in ceremony for Don Barnes in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Deputy Joseph Devela with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, sings the National Anthem during the swearing-in ceremony for Don Barnes on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Don Barnes, right, takes the stage with other officials during his swearing-in ceremony as Orange County’s 13th Sheriff on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer gives his inaugural address during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer, on stage, gives his inaugural address during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Recruit get ready for the swearing-in ceremony of incoming Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Sheriff Don Barnes addresses the audience after he takes the Oath of office as Orange County’s 13th Sheriff in Tustin on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • A historic police cruiser adorns the entrance to the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Center in Tustin. Don Barnes was sworn in there as Sheriff on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer takes a selfie on stage before his inaugural address during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer, center, points to a supporter after he took the Oath of Office during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. Pictured, from left, are Spitzer’s daughter, Lauren, wife Jamie, and former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California, John A. Arguelles, right. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer, left, shakes the hand of former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of California John A. Arguelles, right, after taking the Oath of Office in a swearing-in ceremony in Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer holds up photo of Blaze Bernstein during his inaugural address during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • District Attorney Todd Spitzer gets a standing ovation at the conclusion of his inaugural address during a swearing-in ceremony at Chapman University’s Memorial Hall in Orange on Monday, January 7, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Orange County’s top law enforcement posts changed hands on Monday, as Todd Spitzer was sworn in as district attorney and Don Barnes ascended to become sheriff.

Spitzer, who left the county’s board of supervisors for his new position, replaces 20-year incumbent Tony Rackauckas as the county’s top prosecutor. Spitzer says he’ll bring large-scale reform to the district attorney’s office, which has been riddled with controversy in recent years for its “win at all costs” mentality.

Barnes, a 30-year Orange County sheriff’s veteran, has been the public face of the department for over a year and won election as the hand-picked successor to retiring Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. Barnes said he wants to be a bridge between the public and the department.