At the Florida Sheriffs Association’s 2026 Summer Conference in Miami on July 28, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly was sworn in as the group’s vice president.
Staly has been part of the association’s board of directors for over five years, moving through a string of leadership posts, including serving as vice chair and then chair of the board. In 2024, he made Flagler County Sheriff’s Office history by becoming the agency’s first elected officer within the FSA when he was sworn in as treasurer. Before this new role, he served as the association’s secretary.
With the vice presidency, Staly is positioned to step into the presidency in July 2027. Should that occur, he would be the first Flagler County sheriff ever to lead the statewide organization.
He took the oath alongside the rest of the new officer slate: Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods as president, Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith as treasurer, and Putnam County Sheriff H.D. “Gator” Deloach III as secretary.
“For more than a century, the Florida Sheriffs Association has stood behind the Office of Sheriff and the people we all serve, and it is an honor to help lead that mission,” Staly said. “I am thankful for the trust Florida sheriffs have placed in me and I look forward to working alongside my fellow sheriffs and FSA President Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods to advance the training, legislative advocacy, and community partnerships that strengthen the safety and security of the residents of our great state.”
Flagler County Commission Chair Leann Pennington also offered congratulations and praise.
“Sheriff Rick Staly is one of the finest sheriffs ever to serve Flagler County and in the State of Florida. It is an honor to have him represent our community and a pleasure to support him,” Pennington said. “He has done an outstanding job keeping Flagler County safe, understands what it takes to be an effective leader, and will serve sheriffs and citizens across Florida well as vice president of the Florida Sheriffs Association. Congratulations, Sheriff Staly!”
The Florida Sheriffs Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization made up of Florida’s 67 sheriffs, along with more than 100,000 honorary members, business leaders, and law enforcement officers statewide. The association says it is the nation’s largest state-level law enforcement organization.
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