20-Year Veteran Detention Services Lt. Shane Chaves Retires from YCSO

Published on January 14, 2026

After two decades of service to YCSO, Detention Services Lt Shane Chaves retired at the end of 2025. 

Chief Deputy Jeff Newnum told those gathered for a retirement ceremony in Prescott that Lt Chaves was a key part of the planning and design of the new Prescott jail facility, which opened in 2023. And he told Lt Chaves, "Your heart and love for the people of this agency shines through with anyone that interacts with you. You bring a lot of joy and humor to the job. You will be sorely missed." Capt. Jarrod Winfrey commended Lt Chaves for always being "super positive" and for his teamwork when it came to solving problems that arose. 

Lt Chaves, an Air Force veteran who was named YCSO Detention Officer of the Year in 2019, told the gathering his original desire 20 years ago was to be a patrol deputy but Detention Services called first. Even then, he said, "I just wanted to get my foot in the door and then slide over to patrol". But he started working in the Court Services division and "fell in love with the job", spending 14 years in that part of the agency. 

Lt Chaves thanked his wife and children for their support and sacrifice during his YCSO tenure and told the gathering, "I got a lot of help from others in this agency. You all will truly be missed." In a humorous moment, he was reminded by co-workers that his career began 20 years ago with getting pulled over for speeding by YCSO on his way to his first day on the job. He said he simply told the deputy, "I don't want to be late."