Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly announces reelection bid
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly has filed to run for a third term as the county's top cop.
Staly, a Republican, was elected in 2016 as the county’s 18th sheriff. He was re-elected in 2020, defeating Larry Jones, a Democrat who retired from the sheriff's office. Staly won with 70% of the vote to Jones' 30%.
Staly and his wife moved to Flagler County in 2005 and began a security business in Palm Coast which grew to 128 employees with annual revenue of $3.5 million. Staly and his wife sold the business to a national security firm in 2012, according to a press release the sheriff sent on Thursday announcing the re-election bid.
Staly joined the Flagler County Sheriff's Office in 2013 and served as undersheriff for two years. He left the sheriff’s office and then ran for sheriff, winning the post.
According to a press release from Staly, he has led the sheriff’s office during a “historic” 54% reduction in crime.
Staly listed other initiatives, including creating a Problem Area Crime Enforcement team and a state-of-the-art Real Time Crime Center. He also listed increasing the traffic enforcement unit by 160% and installing radars in every patrol car.
Staly added that he has implemented rehabilitation programs and mental health and addiction treatment programs at the county jail.
Sheriff Staly's goals if reelected
Staly shared in an email his goals for a third term.
“In my third term, we will continue to engage the community through guardianship policing, increase cutting-edge technology and continue our focus to reduce crime through youth crime prevention programs, drug enforcement, quality of life neighborhood issues and inmate rehabilitation programs in the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility," Staly wrote.
"This will build on the successes we have had since I was elected sheriff that have already reduced crime by 54% and will continue to lay the foundation of a professional and modern culture with a team focused on reducing crime and providing the best law enforcement services for the community in one of the fastest growing and safest counties in Florida,” Staly continued.
As of Friday, Staly was running unopposed.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly will seek third term
