Sheriff Emery Gainey, Ret.

Senior Advisor

Over the past 40 years, Sheriff Gainey has successfully obtained and adapted to progressively highly skilled management positions within public service agencies. Each senior management position has required him to be open-minded yet analytically driven, with a unique ability to work with others from various professions and internal units to complete mission-specific tasks in a high-quality and timely manner.

Sheriff Gainey has extensive experience working on multiple projects with chief executive managers, agency heads, legislators, local commissioners, and State Cabinet Officials. He is detail-oriented, has exceptional organization and communication skills, and is driven to exceed expectations on every assignment.

In October 2023, Sheriff Gainey was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to serve as Sheriff of Alachua County—an agency in severe crisis after the prior incumbent resigned before the end of his term. During his tenure at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), Sheriff Gainey successfully reestablished integrity, effective leadership, correct policy, and public confidence within the Organization by developing and implementing relevant agency goals and objectives, setting policy and priorities for all aspects of the agency, including information technology services, law enforcement operations, jail operations, financial management, transparent budget preparation and presentations before the County Commission, etc. Sheriff Gainey reestablished close, professional, and collaborative working relationships with the County Commissioners, fellow constitutional officers, community leaders, State Attorneys, and local, state, and federal law enforcement leaders. These actions led the men and women of ACSO to successfully provide professional law enforcement services to the Alachua County community.

In May 2016, Sheriff Gainey was appointed by Governor Rick Scott to serve as Sheriff of Marion County, assuming the command of an agency in turmoil after the prior incumbent had been removed from office. He served as Sheriff until January 2017. During his tenure in the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), he regained a focus on integrity and effective leadership at all levels. These actions and significant policy enhancements re-established strong public confidence in the agency and its team of professionals. As Sheriff, he led by developing and implementing agency goals and objectives, setting policy and priorities for all aspects of the agency–including Information Technology services, law enforcement operations, jail operations, financial management, transparent budget preparation, and presentations before the County Commission. Sheriff Gainey reestablished strong and professional collaborative relationships with the County Commissioners, fellow constitutional officers, community leaders, State Attorneys, and local, state, and federal law enforcement officials. These steps led to respected, professional, and strong law enforcement services for all Marion County citizens, businesses, and visitors.

From June 2007 to March 2020, Sheriff Gainey served at the Florida Attorney General’s Office, holding the position of Chief of Staff and Director of Law Enforcement, Victim Services & Criminal Justice Programs. As the Chief of Staff, Sheriff Gainey reported directly to the Attorney General and managed non-attorney staff and operations.

While at the Attorney General’s Office, Sheriff Gainey served as a Senior Executive Leadership Staff member. His responsibilities included developing, maintaining and enhancing relationships with local, state, and federal law enforcement executive leaders; recommending policy development on state and national law enforcement victim services programs; researching, analyzing and briefing the Attorney General and executive management on issues within the law enforcement and intelligence communities; served as the Attorney General’s Emergency Coordination Officer for the State Emergency Operations Center; managed and supervised the Bureau of Advocacy and Grants Management (that managed more than $400 Million annually in federal and state grants); represented the Attorney General’s Office as a member of the Florida Domestic Security Oversight Committee.

Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Sheriff Gainey served at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office from September 1982 to May 2007, where he held the positions of Colonel, Chief Deputy/Chief of Staff; Captain–Uniformed Patrol Division Commander, Lieutenant—-Public Information Officer, Human Resources Director- Uniform Patrol Division, and Homeland Security Commander.