Jacksonville sheriff says he’s moved to Nassau County, claims state law allows him to do so

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams no longer lives in Duval County.

The sheriff confirmed the news to Action News Jax Friday night following a report by the online publication “The Tributary” that claimed Williams and his wife had moved to Nassau County.

According to Jacksonville’s city charter, if an acting sheriff moves out of the county while still in office, they’re to be removed. But a state law removed the residency requirement back in 2010, and the sheriff says his legal experts have advised that state law supersedes the city charter.

Term-limited Williams has one more year left as sheriff. He told Action News Jax that he has no plans to resign. Williams also clarified that he did not relocate to Nassau County to run for another public office.

When we asked him about the optics of moving out of the county he still serves, he said it was a better move for his family. When asked why he didn’t wait until he finished his term, Williams said it was a personal decision based on timing.

The sheriff declined our offer to do a phone interview tonight but said he would take questions at the city’s Memorial Day Ceremony Monday.

You can count on Action News Jax to follow up with him Monday.

Ben Frazier, a well-known community activist in Jacksonville released the following statement following the news of Williams’s relocation. “The city’s top cop is violating the letter and spirit of city law,” Frazier said in a statement. “The law says the sheriff must live in Duval County. Sheriff Williams is not above the law.”

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