On Wednesday, the Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) announced its leadership for the 2020-2021 year.
The newly-elected president is Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz who will preside over the association and work with the staff and board of directors to guide the efforts and direction of FSA and its 67 sheriffs.
Schultz started his career in 1992 as a correctional officer and dispatcher in Gilchrist County. Soon after, he decided to obtain his law enforcement credentials and crossed over to a neighboring county where he earned work experience. Over the next several years, Schultz worked at Lancaster Correctional Institution, the Chiefland Police Department, the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, and as an investigator for the State Attorney’s Office and the Public Defender’s Office. In 2012, he was elected the sheriff of Gilchrist County.
“Gilchrist County is a small, agricultural county with only two public schools and one red light,” Schultz said on Wednesday. “It has about 18,000 people living in it, which means as sheriff, those people look to you in times of crisis. You have to show calm in a storm.”
Schultz was re-elected in 2016 and has earned several awards and honors for his leadership. Schultz received the “Outstanding Service, Beyond the Call of Duty” Award from the Chiefland Police Department in 1997, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for Levy County Sheriff’s Office in 2000, and served as the Florida Sheriffs Association Board of Directors treasurer. This past year, he served as FSA’s vice president under Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
“I am honored to step into the role of president for this next year,” Schultz said. “Our community and our country are facing a difficult time, but I feel confident in our ability to serve the state of Florida while prioritizing the safety of our citizens and our officers.”
“The Florida Sheriffs Association is thankful to have Sheriff Schultz stepping in to lead us in these trying times,” said Gualtieri. “Sheriff Schultz has shown great leadership that will represent the association well. I am confident he will continue to move the association in a positive direction and work to strengthen our relationship with the community and our criminal justice system partners.”
Other FSA board appointments are:
- Vice President: Sheriff Bobby McCallum, Levy County
- Secretary: Sheriff Al Nienhuis, Hernando County
- Treasurer: Sheriff Bill Leeper, Nassau County
- Immediate Past President: Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Pinellas County
- Chair: Sheriff Bill Prummell, Charlotte County
- Vice-Chair: Sheriff Dennis Lemma, Seminole County
“One of the Florida Sheriff Association’s top priorities each year is electing a new board of directors to lead our initiatives,” said FSA Executive Director Steve Casey. “The sheriffs are elected by their peers and represent the very best in the entire state. These men and women are comprised of true leadership skills and integrity and we know they will lead according to the ideals our association was founded upon 127 years ago.”
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