Sgt. Andrew Scott to oversee Sheriff's substation

By Gloria BeverageColfax Record EditorSgt. Andrew Scott, who has been with the Placer County Sheriff's office for 20 years, has been named commander of the Colfax substation.Scott is replacing Lt. Troy Minton-Sander, who was recently promoted.What Scott found most appealing about taking over as substation commander was the relationship of the Sheriff's Office with the community and the city council."Working in a cooperative environment has a very big appeal to me," he said. "I've had a lot of contact with (city manager) Bruce (Kranz) and have enjoyed working with him in the past. It seemed like a natural fit for me."The department also has a good working relationship with the California Highway Patrol, he continued."Bigger things can be done with this teamwork," he said.Consider, he continued, the services the city gets for the amount of the contract with the Sheriff's Office."A lot of resources can apply to the city on a case-by-case basis," he explained. "Having that as a back up is a huge benefit to the city. One critical incident can wipe out the entire budget."Scott, 42, says he'll devote as much time as it takes to get the job done."Andrew is one of the most honorable men I have ever met. He is a dedicated to maintaining the honor of our organization through his service as the leader of the Honor Guard detail and the peer support program," said Lt. Troy Minton-Sander. "He leads from the front and no doubt will be the best sergeant to have commanded the station.As a member of the department's honor guard, Scott was instrumental in getting Sheriff William Elam's name added to the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial in Washington, D.C."I'd been doing research on the honor guard," he explained. "A big part of what I do is honoring those killed in the line of duty. Over the years eight (Placer County) deputies, including Sheriff Elam, were killed in the line of duty."While updating the department's Officers Down Memorial Page, Scott realized the Placer County Sheriff — killed in action on Oct. 1, 1951 – was not listed on the national monument.He petitioned to have Elam's name included and in May, Scott and members of the department's honor guard traveled to Washington, D.C. for ceremonies marking the placement of Sheriff Elam's name on the memorial.An avid amateur photographer, Scott is now planning a book about the honor guard and their participation in the ceremonies.He is also active with the Deputy Sheriff's Association, currently serving as president, as well as the County's Chaplaincy Program."Our association is very unique," he said. "We do a lot of community benefits and fundraising. We try to stay very involved in the community."One of the main projects the association is tackling is the establishment of a Deputy Relief Fund.Its purpose would be to help "with some of the situations our deputies encounter," Scott said. "We want to avoid the financial devastation that can go along with any family tragedy."Scott knew at a young age that he wanted a career where he could make a difference.A career in law enforcement fulfilled that desire."I can't imagine doing anything else," he said. "I encourage anybody to get into law enforcement for the right reasons. If you value yourself over your fellow man, you're not going to work out. If you want to serve in any profession that you can do more for your community, then it's law enforcement, fire service or the military."Outside of work, Scott prefers spending time with his wife, Diane, and their two children: Gabriel, 10 and Skylar, 7.