Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats Resigns

Online, August 25, 2011 (Newswire.com) - (BringingHomeCommunityNews.com) Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats announced his resignation effective Nov. 7, 2011. Sheriff Coats cites family health concerns requiring his full attention as one of the reasons he is retiring and leaving his post. His wife is battling breast cancer.

The 67-year-old sheriff will have served 40 years in law enforcement come this fall. He joined the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office in 1971 and enjoyed a distinguished career. Twice former Gov. Lawton Chiles selected Coats to serve as Sheriff in counties where the Sheriff was removed from office. Coats is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. He serves on numerous committees, boards and commissions, belongs to a multitude of professional organizations and is a member of the American Legion.

Sheriff Coats made Gov. Rick Scott aware of his resignation. The governor could allow Coats' second-in-command, Robert Gualtieri, to assume an interim position or he can appoint a successor until Pinellas County voters elect a new sheriff in November of 2012.

Sheriff Coats announced earlier this year he would not seek reelection in 2012 and fueled much speculation and controversy when he mentioned winning the election in 2012, serving two years and then asking the governor to appoint Gualtieri to finish the final two years of the term.

No word yet from the governor's office regarding a possible replacement.

Several candidates, including Gualtieri and former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice filed to run in next year's election.

Pinellas County commissioners repeatedly targeted the Sheriff's Office, along with other County departments to slash its spending the last few years. In addition, jail overcrowding, numerous inmate deaths and other incidents plagued the Sheriff's Office under Coats' tenure. Coats climbed through the ranks during his career, working at all command levels prior to voters electing him Sheriff in 2004 and again in 2008.