Don McDonald

RIO GRANDE COUNTY— Just days after the Colorado primary, Rio Grande County Sheriff Don McDonald is stepping down from his position and an interim sheriff was put in place until newly-elected Anne Robinson begins her term on July 16.

According to Rio Grande County Administrator Craig Barraclough, the sheriff was retiring.

Robinson ran unopposed for Rio Grande County Sheriff as a Republican, receiving 1,745 votes in the June 28 election. There was no Democratic candidate.

Though the circumstances under which McDonald resigned remain unclear, Rio Grande County Sheriff’s Office Detective Heath Hart was named interim sheriff.

According to sources within the department, Robinson will begin her term as the new Rio Grande County Sheriff on July 16.

McDonald served four years as Rio Grande County Sheriff and served as South Fork Police Department Chief before his election in 2018.

McDonald spent his term working on bringing technological services up to date throughout the Rio Grande County Jail. McDonald also saw that the roads throughout the county were covered by road deputies and aided in several high-profile cases with neighboring agencies.