Kern County Sheriff Donny Youngblood announced Tuesday that he will retire after nearly 50 years of service to the county, including two decades as its elected sheriff.

Youngblood announced his retirement in a video released Tuesday by the Kern County Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s been a great career, great place to work, a great community to serve and the people of this county have been in electing me, what, five times. I’m very grateful,” Youngblood said.

Youngblood previously served 30 years with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office before retiring. He later returned as the county’s elected sheriff, serving five terms over the past 20 years, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said.

Youngblood said his decision to retire was influenced by the extension of his current term by two years after the election. He said he originally ran for a four-year term that was scheduled to end Jan. 8.

Asked why he decided to retire, Youngblood pointed to the extension of his term beyond the four years he originally sought.

“Well, I ran for a four-year term that ends January 8th. The governor and the legislature extended it two years after the election which is not two years that I ran for, so, I just felt like it was an opportune time to retire,” Youngblood said.

Youngblood said the Kern County Board of Supervisors will appoint a sheriff to serve the remaining two years of his term. He pointed to Undersheriff Larry McCurtain as a potential successor, saying McCurtain has been his “right hand man for forever.”

“I certainly hope that is who they pick,” Youngblood said.

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