Governor Appoints Interim Sheriff

The governor named a temporary replacement for Sheriff Jim Coats Friday afternoon.

Chief Deputy Bob Gualtieri, a longtime employee of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, will serve as interim Sheriff when Coats retires next month.

Gualtieri, 50, will be sworn in as Sheriff on Nov. 7. He will serve until the winner of the November 2012 election takes office in January 2013. Gualtieri is also a Republican candidate in the 2012 race for Pinellas County Sheriff. 

"The Governor congratulated me on my appointment. I thanked him, said I appreciate his vote of confidence and that I intend to serve the citizens of Pinellas County to the best of my ability," Gualtieri said.

Gualtieri began his career as a detention deputy at the Pinellas County Jail in 1982. He then became certified as a law enforcement officer and joined the Dunedin Police Department in 1983 before rejoining as a deputy sheriff in 1984. 

Gualtieri worked in many divisions during the next 15 years including narcotics investigations, where he was recognized as an expert.

He left to pursue a law degree and graduated from Stetson College of Law in 2002, then joined the Tampa law firm of Ford & Harrison LLP in private practice. Coats asked Gualtieri to return as general counsel in 2006. In 2008, Coats appointed Gualtieri to chief deputy and second-in-command. 

Gualtieri now manages the day-to-day operations and is responsible for the agency's $220 million budget. He is also in charge of Pinellas Safe Harbor, a jail diversion program and the county's largest shelter for the homeless. Gualtieri is also involved with the Sheriff's Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. 

Last month,  so he can spend more time with his wife, Cat, who is battling cancer. Coats just celebrated 40 years of service with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.