Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson submits resignation letter
Sheriff Clovis Watson submitted his letter of resignation Tuesday, The Gainesville Sun confirmed.
Watson, who has been on extended medical leave for roughly two months, will end his time as the top law enforcement officer in Alachua County just midway into his term.
The resignation will be effective Oct. 1, according to his resignation letter obtained by The Sun.
"After much soul-searching and with a great sense of sadness, I am announcing my retirement from my position as Sheriff of Alachua County effective October 1, 2023," he wrote in a letter to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who will appoint someone to finish out Watson's term.
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In 2020, Watson defeated incumbent Sadie Darnell with nearly 60% of the popular vote to make history by becoming the county's first Black sheriff.
In June, however, the former state representative announced he would not seek a second term in office and withdrew from the 2024 election. The next day, Col. Chad Scott filed to run for office and has since received support from Undersheriff Joel DeCoursey.
Watson stated in his letter that he always intended to finish his first term after withdrawing from the race but due to his health, he felt it was best to retire at this time.
"After more than forty years in law enforcement and public service, this decision has been very difficult, but I have accepted that my health is such that I fear that I may not be able to meet my own expectations for performing my sworn duties," he wrote.
Agency issues
The agency has faced staffing shortages over the past few years since Watson's tenure began, reporting shortages at the jail and on patrol.
Also in June, three officers successfully sued the sheriff for violating their rights for hearings while facing termination and suspension. After the lawsuit, Watson ordered back pay and reinstated each member, vowing to be better in the future.
A fourth lawsuit in federal court, however, is still ongoing. Watson is accused of discrimination and is expected to be deposed in October, WCJB-TV20 reported.
In April, the State Attorney's Office issued dozens of subpoenas to former and current sheriff's office employees as part of an ongoing investigation. Investigators have yet to say what the investigation entails.
Watson, also the former police chief for the city of Alachua, said he will use his remaining time in office to ensure a smooth transition for whoever is appointed.
"As I retire, I wish to thank the citizens of Alachua County who have allowed me the honor to serve as their Sheriff as well as the hard-working men and women of this great agency for all they do on a daily basis," he wrote.
Local leaders react
Several community leaders shared their thoughts on Watson's resignation.
“I was sad to learn of Sheriff Watson's recent resignation due to health reasons," County Commissioner Ken Cornell said. "I wish him all the best and deeply appreciate his decades of service to our Community."
“Sheriff Watson has been a devoted public servant in Alachua County for a long time, and I’m sorry that he won’t be able to finish his term. I wish him the best," Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward said.
Some viewed the news as a turning point to correct ongoing issues at the agency. Attorney Bobi Frank, who represented the three officers who sued Watson over disciplinary issues, called his resignation the "first step" toward fixing those problems.
“Of course, I wish Clovis Watson a healthy future, but this is undeniably the first step in the right direction," she said. "There are many more to follow. My focus will remain on the health and safety of the agency and the courageous men and women who serve and protect this community.”
Gainesville Sun reporter Nora O'Neill contributed to the report.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Sheriff Clovis Watson resigns from office in middle of first term
