Florida sheriff calls state investigation a “political strategy”

BAKER COUNTY, Fla. — Note: The above video is from a previous, related report.

The Baker County Sheriff is responding to the state’s investigation into the Sheriff’s Office pursuant to an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis.

The order issued Friday states that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the Baker County Sheriff’s Office for an unknown reason. Another order issued Friday indicates that the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is also under investigation.

In a letter to sheriff’s office employees, Baker County Sheriff Scotty Rhoden calls the investigation a political strategy “to not only divide our BCSO family, but also to draw negative attention to our county.”

Rhoden released the letter in a post on the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. The letter also states that Rhoden intends to cooperate with the FDLE in the investigation.

“I stand 100 percent behind my employees and administrative staff and invite all investigators to inspect our facilities and audit our operations at any time,” the letter said.

DeSantis’ executive order states that 8th District Attorney Brian Kramer has recused himself from the investigation after previously supporting Rhoden’s re-election campaign. Now 4th District Attorney Melissa Nelson is taking over the investigation.

The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office is also under investigation. Kramer has also recused himself from that case due to his support of ACSO Sheriff Emery Gainey. The case is being handled by Third Judicial District Attorney John Durrett.

Nelson and Durrett’s executive directorship will last at least until May 4, 2025, the order states.

In 2022, 16 civil rights groups filed a federal complaint against the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement over the Baker County Detention Center. The 102-page complaint was filed on behalf of 15 people currently or formerly detained at the federally operated facility at the Baker County Sheriff’s Office by several groups including the Americans for Immigrant Justice, Freedom for Immigrants, the Florida Policy Institute and the Black Alliance for Just Immigration.

Read Rhoden’s full letter to BCSO staff below.

As many of you may have seen in the news, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office is under investigation due to an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis for unknown reasons. Because 8th Judicial District Attorney Brian Kramer supported my campaign to continue serving as Sheriff for Baker County, he was forced to recuse himself from the investigation and it was turned over to 4th Judicial District Attorney Melissa Nelson.

With that said, I want to make it very clear that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been welcomed into our Sheriff’s Office for the past 8 years and this is no different now. I stand 100% behind my employees and administrative staff and invite all investigators to tour our facility and review our procedures at any time.

I would like to officially state that this is a POLITICAL STRATEGY to not only divide our BCSO family, but to bring negative attention to our district. We all know that we are family in Baker County, and we always work together to support one another and ensure that all of our district activities put the people of our community first. As your Sheriff, I will not shy away from these tactics as I take my position in this community very seriously. You are my family, and I have proudly served alongside each of you and the community we all call home for over three decades. Please join me in welcoming these investigations so we can show everyone that our Sheriff’s Office is a first class operation.

There will be a staff meeting on Monday at 2:30 p.m. I encourage anyone who would like to attend to do so.

RELATED TOPICS: State investigation into Baker County Sheriff’s Office; 8th District Attorney recusses himself

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