# County sheriff (Florida)

The county sheriff is a Florida constitutional officer and a part of the state judicial branch.
The sheriff has a duty to enforce both the Florida Constitution and Florida state laws and statutes, and to provide for the security, safety and well-being of its citizens. This is accomplished through the delivery of law enforcement services, the operation of the county jail, and the provision of court security. The Office of the Sheriff functions as the executive officer of the court.
Under Florida law, the sheriff derives his legal authority from the Constitution of the State of Florida. The sheriff is vested with the ability to appoint and direct deputies who will act in his name and office to enforce the appropriate and applicable laws of the State of Florida. Those deputies of the county sheriff's office who are certified law enforcement officers must maintain a thorough working knowledge of the laws they enforce and the underlying principles from which they emanate.

## Duties

The duties, as enumerated in Chapter 30 of the Florida Statutes, include:
* Executing all process of the Supreme Court, circuit court, county court, and board of county commissioners, to be executed in its county.
* Executing such other writs, processes, warrants, and other papers directed to it, as may come to its hands to be executed in its county.
* Attending all terms of the circuit court and county court held in its county.
* Executing all orders of the board of county commissioners of its county, for which services it shall receive such compensation, out of the county treasury, as said boards may deem proper.
* Being conservator of the peace in its county.
* Suppressing tumults, riots, and unlawful assemblies in its county with force and strong hand when necessary.
* Apprehending, without warrant, any person disturbing the peace, and carrying that person before the proper judicial officer, that further proceedings may be had against him or her according to law.
* Having authority to raise the power of the county and command any person to assist it, when necessary, in the execution of the duties of its office.
* Being, ex officio, timber agents for its county.
* Performing such other duties as may be imposed upon it by law.

## List of Florida sheriffs

The following is a partial list of incumbent (bolded) and former Florida sheriffs.
Current and former Florida sheriffs :
| Name | County |
| Malcolm E. Beard | Hillsborough County |
| Kevin Beary | Orange County |
| Susan Benton | Highlands County |
| Ric Bradshaw | Palm Beach County |
| John R. Broxson | Santa Rosa County |
| Mills O. Burnham | St. Lucia County |
| Bob Butterworth | Broward County |
| Ferrin C. Campbell | Okaloosa County |
| Dale Carson | Jacksonville |
| Mike Chitwood | Volusia County |
| Chad Chronister | Hillsborough County |
| Rosie Cordero-Stutz | Miami-Dade County |
| Jerry Demings | Orange County |
| William A. Freeman | Monroe County |
| David Gee | Hillsborough County |
| Nat Glover | Jacksonville |
| Bob Gualtieri | Pinellas County |
| Peter Monroe Hagan | Putnam County |
| Scott Israel | Broward County |
| Ken Jenne | Broward County |
| Grady Judd | Polk County |
| Al Lamberti | Broward County |
| Dennis Lemma | Seminole County |
| Ken Mascara | St. Lucie County |
| Willis V. McCall | Lake County |
| Jim McMillan | Jacksonville |
| John Mina | Orange County |
| Nick Navarro | Broward County |
| Rich Nugent | Hernando County |
| Roy Frank Roberts | Brevard County |
| John Rutherford | Jacksonville |
| Chip Simmons | Escambia County |
| William Snyder | Martin County |
| Edward J. Stack | Broward County |
| Gregory Tony | Broward County |
| William Whitaker | Sarasota County |
| Theodore Hartridge Willard | Madison County |
| Morris A. Young | Gadsden County |
| T. K. Waters | Jacksonville |