Genesis Arias Becomes Luzerne County's First Woman Sheriff

Genesis C. Arias has been appointed as the new Luzerne County sheriff and the first woman to hold the position in Luzerne County and the first Hispanic woman in Pennsylvania to be sheriff. The appointment, announced on Tuesday, marks a significant milestone for law enforcement leadership in the state while highlighting Genesis’ years of military and public service.

Sheriff Genesis said “I am privileged and humbled to be elected Sheriff of Luzerne County and accept this honor with great pride and commitment”.

Genesis will be responsible for some of the most important duties of the Luzerne County Sheriff's Department, such as the security of the courthouse, the transportation of inmates, the issuance of firearm licenses and conducting property auctions for sheriff's sales. She replaces Brian M. Szumski, who resigned in June after 12 years with the county.

Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo nominated Genesis for her leadership skills, dedication to public service. In discussing Genesis ‘career, Romilda singled out her professionalism and her ability to lead when under pressure.

“I have seen Genesis lead, and what I have seen is not only her accomplishments, it's her character; she's always listened, been level headed when things have been tough, never lost sight of who she was there to serve. That's a quality that is not taught”, said Romilda Crocamo.

Key Highlights:

• Genesis Arias becomes Luzerne County's first woman sheriff, historic appointment
• She becomes Pennsylvania's first Hispanic woman serving as county sheriff
• Her appointment marks a milestone for diversity in law enforcement

Genesis was born in New York City to Dominican parents and came to live in Hazleton in 2005  where she graduated from Hazleton Area High School in 2010. Later, she joined the United States Army where she served as a military police officer with two deployments to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to support Operation Enduring Freedom. While deployed she served as a camp guard that secured high-value detainees.

She received numerous military awards for her distinguished service, such as two times the Army Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

In 2019, Genesis went back to Luzerne County and started her career with the sheriff's  department where she earned her Pennsylvania Act 2 Certification from Penn State University. She was steadily promoted throughout the ranks, taking on the role of sergeant in 2022, and lieutenant in 2023. In her role as lieutenant, she supervised the department's transport and security division, which is responsible for transporting inmates, providing security at the courthouse, and coordinating with courts, correctional partners and law enforcement agencies across the region.

Genesis also holds a number of certifications, including law enforcement instructor, crisis intervention team certified officer, certified field training officer and is an active member of the department's honor guard. This multi-disciplinary background has enabled her to work with the department at a high level.

In the future, Genesis' goals are to build relationships with the courts, law enforcement agencies and the community they serve, and to keep Luzerne County residents safe and secure.

“I am honored to lead this office in an honest, transparent and accountable manner to promote a teamwork environment that is professional and respectful to those who are entrusted with my care as the sheriff of Luzerne County”, said Genesis C. Arias.

Genesis' new position marks a historic milestone and the dawn of a new era for Luzerne County's Sheriff's Department, as she has acquired military discipline, experience and a commitment to public service to her new role.