Chief of Staff

Joel Bolante, Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff is the Sheriff’s principal command staff officer for directing, coordinating, supervising, and training the staff, except in areas reserved for the Sheriff. The CoS frees the Sheriff from routine details and passes pertinent information and insight from the staff to the Sheriff and from the Sheriff to staff.

As an “anticipator”, the CoS must be able to anticipate events or trends that may impact the organization. He must share with the Sheriff a near-identical vision of operations, events, and requirements. Command staff must inform the CoS of any recommendations (operational, tactical or administrative) or information they pass directly to the Sheriff or of instructions they receive directly from the Sheriff.

The CoS assists the Sheriff in supervising the daily operation of the agency, participates in the planning process for present and future conditions, and assists the divisions in attaining agency goals and mission. Under special conditions, or when necessary for the effective operation of the agency, the Sheriff may give the CoS temporary command of a division (usually when the division director or deputy division director is unable to command).

Areas and activities that are the responsibility of the CoS in the role as supervisor of command staff:

• Managing the day-to-day activities of the agency and ensure critical information affecting the operation of the agency, major criminal events, natural or man-made disasters, or events or incidents having political impact are relayed to the Sheriff in a timely manner.
• Assuming command of the agency during the absence of the Sheriff.
• Coordinating, scheduling, and managing the annual Command Staff Planning Retreat. The CoS will be responsible for enforcing the command staff strategic planning time line in accordance with the Sheriff’s guidance.
• Assisting the Sheriff in determining liaison and mutual aid requirements for day-to-day operations and during special or emergency events.
• Ensuring the agency-wide appropriate incident command structure is in place and functioning during special, emergency or unusual events and during state of emergencies.
• Monitoring command staff’s discipline, morale, and all divisions’ operational readiness.
• Organizing, planning, and conducting staff training and inspections.
• Ensuring all tasks and staff work assigned to command staff conforms to the mission of the agency and the Sheriff’s guidance, and occurs within the time frame provided by the Sheriff.
• Participate in the development of agency goals and objectives.
• Ensuring the divisions integrate and coordinate its activities internally, vertically, and horizontally; the activities remain consistent with the goals and mission of the agency; and the activities conform to the guidance of the Sheriff.
• Informing the Sheriff, division directors, deputy division directors, and other primary command staff personnel regarding new information, instructions, and developments affecting the agency.
• Resolving conflicts between divisions.
• Maintaining knowledge of policies, directives, orders, and instructions the Sheriff issues to the divisions and subordinate units, and verifying their execution.
• Developing policy consistent with the philosophy and intent of the Sheriff, and to maintain compliance with law enforcement and corrections accreditation requirements.
• Ensuring the divisions are rendering assistance to subordinate units, as necessary.
• Participate in the budget and budgetary review process.
• Supervising the integration of risk management principles agency wide for all planning and execution of operations.
• Coordinating the maintenance and care of Sheriff’s Office property, to include buildings, grounds, emergency generators, and parking facilities.
• Plan/coordinate various research/staff studies regarding functional criminal justice issues to enhance operational effectiveness and efficiency.
• Mentor future leaders.
• Any other tasks/projects assigned by the Sheriff.
• Coordinating staff responsibility for other functions as directed by the Sheriff, these may include some or all of the following:
  • Training function
  • Internal Affairs

Bio - Joel Bolante, Chief of Staff

Professional Training and Education

• Graduate of the Florida Correctional Training Institute for corrections certification 02 April 1981.
• Graduate of the Florida Basic Law Enforcement Academy 21 May 1984.
• Attended numerous law enforcement and management related schools over the past 23 years.
• Graduate of the DEA Drug Unit Commander's Academy, Quantico, VA, 30 July 1993.
• Graduate of the Southern Police Institute (University of Louisville), 90th Administrative Officer's Course (Dean's Scholar), 12 November 1993.
• Graduate of the 195th Session of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA, 11 December 1998.
• Graduate of the U.S. Secret Service Dignitary Protection Seminar for Executives, Washington D.C., 17 December 1999.
• Graduate of U.S. Dept. of Justice Florida Executive Development Seminar, 18 May 2001.
• Graduate, Leadership St Johns, St Augustine/St Johns County Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2002.
• Graduate of the Chief Executive Seminar, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, Class #35.

Formal Education

• Graduate of Orange Park, Sr High School, 1979.
• Graduate of Vincennes University, Associates in Police Science, Summa Cum Laude (3.97 GPA).
• Graduate of Troy State University, Bachelor?s in Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude (3.83 GPA).
• Graduate of Troy State University, Masters in Public Administration (4.0 GPA).

Positions Held

• Correctional Officer, Florida State Prison, June 1980-1982.
• Supervising Correctional Officer (SGT), 1982-1983.
• Law enforcement Deputy Sheriff, St Johns County Sheriff's Office (SJSO), 1984-1985.
• Detective in Vice and Narcotics, SJSO, 1985-1989.
• Detective Sergeant, Organized Crime Unit, SJSO, 1989-1991.
• Lieutenant, Commander of the Organized Crime Unit, SJSO, 1991-1994.
• Appointed to Director of Operations and promoted to rank of Colonel by Sheriff Neil Perry in July1994 commanding all of uniform patrol, communications, special operations, and reserves.

Contact - Joel Bolante, Chief of Staff

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Chief Bolante contact information:
jbolante@sjso.org