Office of Sheriff

David B. Shoar, Sheriff

The Office of The Sheriff is held by an elected, constitutional officer in a partisan office. The sheriff serves as the chief law enforcement officer, the chief bailiff of the court, and the chief corrections officer of the county. The sheriff's salary is set by the legislature and in St. Johns County; a sheriff is elected for a four-year term. Funding for the Sheriff's Office is allocated by the Board of County Commissioners. Chapter 30, Florida Statutes, outlines the responsibility of the sheriff, which includes that the sheriff be a qualified voter and become a certified law enforcement officer within two years after taking office. Commissioned and appointed deputies are empowered by the sheriff's authority. The sheriff has a special relationship with deputies in that the sheriff is held personally liable for the deputies' actions or failure to act.
I encourage you to contact me about your law enforcement concerns. Send an email to Sheriff Shoar.

Located within the Office of the Sheriff are special functions to include:

• 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.
  Click here to email CoS Bolante | Click here to find out more about the duties and responsibilities of the Chief of Staff.
• Sheriff's Executive Manager – Manages the overall administrative functions of the Office of Sheriff and supervises those components which report directly to the Chief of Staff or Sheriff.
• Sheriff's Special Projects Coordinator – Performs special assignments and investigations as directed by the Sheriff. Directly supervises the functions of Crime Prevention and Victim’s Advocacy.
• Crime Prevention Mission Statement – The SJSO Crime Prevention Section was established to assist our community in reducing the likelihood that we may become the victims of crime. We stand ready to serve all our residents and visitors alike, and are responsible for the development and implementation of Crime Prevention Programs and information sharing. Click here to learn more about all Crime Prevention Programs.
• Victim’s Advocacy – Being the victim of a crime is not pleasant to think about. In fact, it is not pleasant to have to go through, but unfortunately it occurs. Regardless of age or social status, all victims sustain some type of physical, emotional, or financial injury. All too often, this injury is long lasting. Click here to learn more about the Victims’ Advocacy Program.
• Community Affairs Section - Assists the media by supplying details, serves in a public information capacity, gathers media information, and produces video training tapes for the agency. The Sheriff's Office is committed to informing the community, through the accredited news media, of events/incidents within the public domain and also is committed to fostering a mutual relationship of trust, cooperation and respect between the general public, the news media, and the Sheriff's Office. We also prepare media briefings and/or special news releases and respond to all newsworthy scenes to coordinate release of public information, provide and/or update website content, write articles/publish the Sheriff’s Office Community Watch Magazine, interview college students who wish to enter our Intern Program, and initiate the Emergency Notification System, when it’s needed. The production of Training Videos is also a large part of this sections work. Roll Call Videos are used within the Agency as a way to introduce changes in Policy and Procedures. The Community Affairs Section, with the help and guidance of the Training Coordinator, produces videos that are shown to personnel during briefings.
• Courtesy Services Branch – Part of the Community Affairs Section, provides law enforcement and administration assistance to visitors and residents. This position handles walk-in requests, probation registrations, and child seat issuance, correction citations, coordinating information to detectives, and providing general information to the public.
• Programs Section – Responsible for the administration of the Civilian Law Enforcement Academy (CLEA), Sheriff's Office Volunteer Program, and the Sheriff’s Ambassadors For the Elderly Program (S.A.F.E.). The CLEA is held several times a year. The goal of our academy is to familiarize our citizens with their Sheriff’s Office and what we do. Classes include lectures as well as hands-on participation in Crime Scene Scenarios, Defensive Driving, Firearms Safety and Personal Safety. The S.A.F.E. Program is an out reach to our elderly population which is a very important part of our community. We provide in-home visits to the elderly population in the program. If we see a need in the home, we have community partners that we can refer them to and assist them with getting the help they may need. To learn more about either program, please email bmccullough@sjso.org or call (904) 810-6631.
• Internal Affairs Section – Responsible for investigating all serious complaints filed against an employee or related to actions taken by the Agency. Feedback from the community, both positive and negative, is monitored by this section.

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Bio - David B. Shoar, Sheriff

Personal

• Born October 28, 1961 in Springfield, Massachusetts.
• Married on May 2, 1987 to the former Laura Giannotta.
• Father of Emily Elizabeth and Matthew Lawrence.
• Member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church, St. Augustine, Florida.

Professional

• President and Valedictorian of Police Academy Class, 1981.
• Patrol Officer, St. Augustine Police Department, 1981-1991.
• Sergeant, St. Augustine Police Department, 1991-1997 (road patrol & records/information management).
• Administrative Services Commander, St. Augustine Police Department, 1997-1998.
• Operations Commander, St. Augustine Police Department, 1998-2000
• Chief of Police, St. Augustine Police Department, 2000-2004
• Elected Sheriff of St. Johns County Florida, 2004.
• Attended numerous police related schools over the past 22 years.
• Have received numerous awards and letters of commendation from colleagues and members of the public over the past 26 years.
• Graduate of the 193rd session of the prestigious FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia, 1998.
• Graduate of the 46th session of the prestigious FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) at Quantico, Virginia, 2003.
• Graduate of the 35th session of the Chief Executive Seminar (CES) sponsored by the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, 2004.
• Scheduled to attend the Police Executive Research Forum’s Executive Management Forum in 2008/2009.  This course is recognized as the top tier law enforcement executive leadership course and is provided in conjunction with Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and will be held at Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Civilian Education

• Graduated Cathedral High School, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1979.
• Graduated Cum Laude (with honors, 3.3GPA), St. Johns River Community College (Associate of Arts Degree), 1987.
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors, 3.97GPA), University of North Florida (Bachelor of Arts Degree, Criminal Justice), 1996.
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors, 3.9GPA), University of North Florida (Master’s Degree, Public Administration), 2001.
• Scholastic Memberships – Gold Key National Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, Student Criminal Justice Association and the Pre-Law Society.
• Adjunct Professor, St. Johns River Community College and Flagler College, 2002-Present.
• Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Flagler College, 2005.

Military Education

• Twenty-four (24) year veteran of the Florida Army National Guard.
• Graduate of Basic Recruit Training, 1979.
• Graduate of Air Force Security Police Specialist School; Lackland AFB, TX, 1979.
• Graduate of Florida National Guard Military Academy Officer Candidate School, Camp Blanding, FL, 1988.
• Graduate of Engineer Officer Basic Course, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, 1990.
• Graduate of the Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, 1999.
• Graduate of the Combined Arms, Services and Staff Course, Jax, FL, 2001.
• Graduate of Warrior 2000 Leadership Seminar.

Military Awards

• Good Conduct Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• Southwest Asia Service Medal
• Liberation of Kuwait Medal (awarded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
• Army Commendation Medal (two times)
• Overseas Training Ribbon
• The Florida Commendation Medal
• The Meritorious Service Medal

Military Assignments and Leadership Experience

• Enlisted soldier from 1980 through 1987
• 1987-1988, attended Military Officer Candidate School (OCS)
• 1988, Commissioned a Second Lieutenant
• Unit Commander, 221st Explosive Ordinance Disposal Detachment, 1988
• Platoon Leader and Executive Officer, 269th Engineer Company, 1988 – 1992
• Platoon Leader, 269th Engineer Company, in Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield/Storm
• Executive Officer, 269th Engineer Company, during Operation Andrew relief operations
• Staff Officer, Directorate of Engineering and Housing, Camp Blanding, FL, 1992-1995
• Unit Commander, 653rd Engineer Detachment, 1995 – 1997
• Unit Commander, 653rd Engineer Detachment, during Operation Opal relief operations
• Staff Officer, Florida Army National Guard Facility Management Office, 1997 – 1999
• Operations Officer, Florida Army National Guard Office of Plans, Operations and Military Support to Civilian Authorities, 1999 – 2001
• Law Enforcement Liaison for the Assistant Adjutant General for Army (FLANG) Joint Task Force, 1999 - 2005
• Public Information/Affairs Advisor to the Command Section of the Florida National Guard, 2001-2002
• Provost Marshall, 53rd Infantry Brigade, Tampa, FL. 2002-2003
• Public Information/Affairs Advisor to the Command Section of the Florida National Guard, 2003-2005
• Retired in 2005 from the Florida Army National Guard after 24 years of service

Civilian Awards

• University of North Florida In-Service Academic Excellence Award, 2002
• Juvenile Justice Award, 2002
• Criminal Justice Award from the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency (FCCD), 2005
• Establishment of the “David B. Shoar Award for Academic Achievement” at Flagler College
• St. Johns County Catholic Charities “Good Samaritan” Award, 2008
• Recipient of the National “America’s Most Wanted First Responder All Star” award, 2006.
• Recipient of the “Top Law Enforcement of the year 2007” from the Florida statewide American Legion.

Professional Affiliations

• Former Board of Trustee member of the St. Augustine Police Pension Fund
• St. Johns County Juvenile Justice Council
  
• St. Johns County Task Force on Domestic Violence (former co-chairperson)
  
• University of North Florida's advisory council for the Institute of Local Government
  
• Northeast Florida Law Enforcement Executive's Association (past vice president and president)
  
• St. Augustine/St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce
  
• Member, Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
  
• Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Florida FBI National Academy Associates
  
• Member, Florida Police Chief’s Association
  
• Member, Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency
  
• Life member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
  
• Member, Epic Board of Directors
  
• Member, Rotary Club of St. Augustine
  
• Board of Directors for the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA)
  
• Member, National Guard Officers Association
  
• Member, Association of the United States Army
  
• Member, Knights of Columbus (St. Anastasia Church)
  
• Member, Brotherhood and Protective Order of the Elk (BPOE)
  
• Member Ashlar Lodge of St. Augustine, Florida (Master Mason).
  
• Board Member, elected to serve on the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (2006).

Miscellaneous

• Appointed in 2003 by Commissioner Tom Gallagher (State of Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services) to a 4-year term on the Division of Licensing Advisory Council for Private Security.
• Served on the St. Augustine Beach Police Chief selection committee, 2003

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Sheriff Shoar Videos

Sheriff Shoar's Web Greeting - .wmv file - 2.76 MB - large download

Sheriff Shoar's CrimeStoppers PSA - .wmv file - 1.9 MB - large download

Sheriff's Survey

To insure that we here at SJSO are serving you in the community as best we can, we would like to hear from you. Send us your thoughts by filling out this brief survey.

Contact - David B. Shoar, Sheriff

DO NOT REPORT CRIMES OR INCIDENTS OF ANY TYPE OVER THE INTERNET OR BY E-MAIL. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OR SERIOUSNESS OF THE INCIDENT, EITHER CALL 911 OR (904) 824-8304.

Sheriff Shoar contact information:
dshoar@sjso.org
(904) 810-6601