Sheriff White's honors include the Jefferson Award from the coveted American Institute for Public Service in 1983. In 2006, following an eight-month search involving input from more than 1,400 business, political, and civic leaders, the Aspen Institute recognized Sheriff White as one of the nation’s top 24 young elected officials and selected him for a new fellowship program honoring public leaders who have been identified as "the true rising stars" of American politics.

 

In his first term, Sheriff White wasted no time pursuing several important public safety goals. He immediately followed through on his pledge to provide greater access to public information by creating a web page which lists individuals with outstanding warrants in Bernalillo County as well as one which lists sex offenders who have ignored their statutory obligation to register. 

 

Sheriff White has also made preventing and reducing DWI a top priority in Bernalillo County. In addition to being an outspoken advocate for harsher penalties, under his leadership, the Department has undertaken aggressive DWI enforcement operations. Sheriff White has targeted fugitives from justice by holding regular warrant sweeps which result in hundreds of arrests throughout the calendar year. One of his most rewarding experiences as sheriff has been in leading a team of deputies and firefighters to rescue survivors and restore public safety for the citizens of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

 

Sheriff White has one son, Darren II.