Three months after the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office did an undersheriff shakeup, Sheriff Daniel Garcia is hitting the undo button. Effective April 1, the agency will be back to its default undersheriff prior to Jan. 1, 2025.

Following the Dec. 26, 2024, decision by the Pacific County Commission to remove the Pacific County Jail from the sheriff’s office’s purview, the agency no longer met the state statute of minimum employees to have five administrators.

As a result, then-jail head Michael Parker was set to be laid off effective Jan. 1, 2025, before then-undersheriff Michael Ray offered to resign and hand Parker the position. Ray’s separation involved him moving to the then-vacant Surfside Homeowners Association (SHOA) deputy position.

According to public records, the sheriff’s office notified the county’s Civil Service Commission that effective April 1 through May 31, they are seeking to move Parker into the Surfside position as a temporary hire — which the commission authorized.

The move will be temporary until Parker completes the formal civil service process to become the permanent SHOA deputy, if he chooses to remain.

Two days later, on March 14, Garcia issued a letter to Parker outlining the reasoning for the demotion. The letter notes that Parker’s appointment as undersheriff will end on March 31.

“After careful consideration and a thorough review of all relevant information, a decision has been made to reappoint Michael Ray to the position of Undersheriff, effective April 1, 2025,” Garcia states in the letter. “This decision was made following a period of transition and evaluation of what is best for the Office and the people of Pacific County and was not a reflection of your performance or dedication to the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office.”

Garcia went on to thank Parker.

“I understand this news may be disappointing, and I want to express my sincere appreciation for your continued service as a Patrol Deputy — SHOA and contributions to the People of Pacific County, this Office, and our County Government,” Garcia stated. “Your commitment has been invaluable. I look forward to our continued relationship and wish you all the best in your future endeavors.”

Ray will return as undersheriff at the max management scale for the position, which he was at when he departed at Step 9, Grade 18: $8,756 a month, which equates to $105,072 annually plus benefits.

Parker will be placed at the maximum Step 6 on the SHOA road deputy scale, which is $6,289 a month, which equates to $75,468 annually plus relative benefits.

The move is expected to be made official following the county commission meeting on March 25, where it was placed on the agenda to make it official.