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Pamerleau earned various military commendations, including the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.<ref name=univofwy/>  

Pamerleau earned various military commendations, including the Legion of Merit, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Superior Service Medal, and the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon.<ref name=univofwy/>  

   

   

In 2010, Pamerleau became the Republican nominee by default for a seat on the county commission after the death of the party's initial candidate. She gave incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Tommy Adkisson a strong challenge.<ref name=ggarcia/> Two years later, she unseated Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz, an [[Hispanic]] Democrat who spent most of the general election campaign under attack for the deaths of two police dogs, a tragedy which critics claimed could have been avoided. Ortiz was charged with a staffing crisis at the jail, which he blamed on budget cuts imposed by the five-member Bexar County Commissioners Court headed by County Judge Nelson Wolff, also a Democrat. Ortiz was accused of using county resources in his campaign. The [[district attorney]] requested that the [[Texas Rangers]] investigate Ortiz. In defeat, Ortiz said that he respected the [[Democracy|democratic process]] but accused Pamerleau of waging a dishonest campaign.<ref name=saen/>

In 2010, Pamerleau became the Republican nominee by default for a seat on the county commission after the death of the party's initial candidate. She gave incumbent [[Democratic Party|Democrat]] Tommy Adkisson a strong challenge.<ref name=ggarcia/> Two years later, she unseated Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz, an [[Hispanic]] Democrat who spent most of the general election campaign under attack for the deaths of two police dogs, a tragedy which critics claimed could have been avoided. Ortiz was charged with a staffing crisis at the jail, which he blamed on budget cuts imposed by the five-member Bexar County Commissioners Court headed by County Judge Nelson Wolff, also a Democrat. Ortiz was accused of using county resources in his campaign. The [[district attorney]] requested that the Texas Rangers investigate Ortiz. In defeat, Ortiz said that he respected the [[Democracy|democratic process]] but accused Pamerleau of waging a dishonest campaign against him.<ref name=saen/>

As sheriff, Pamerleau supervises about 1,700 deputies, civilian employees, and detention officers. Her department budget of $105 million represents a third of the spending for Bexar County government. To become sheriff, she had to pass weapons qualifications examinations. Political consultant Jim Lunz, formerly affiliated with [[United States Senator]] [[John Cornyn]], first urged her to run for sheriff, but she expressed hesitation. Lunz's suggestion, however, caused her to rethink her positition because she believed that she has the skills to operate a large jail and to fight crime in a large urban area.<ref name=samag/>

As sheriff, Pamerleau supervises about 1,700 deputies, civilian employees, and detention officers. Her department budget of $105 million represents a third of the spending for Bexar County government. To become sheriff, she had to pass weapons qualifications examinations. Political consultant Jim Lunz, formerly affiliated with [[United States Senator]] [[John Cornyn]], first urged her to run for sheriff, but she expressed hesitation. Lunz's suggestion, however, caused her to rethink her positition because she believed that she has the skills to operate a large jail and to fight crime in a large urban area.<ref name=samag/>