Sheriff Jim Coats: Serving Pinellas for 40 Years

Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats celebrates 40 years in law enforcement today. Much has changed since 1971. Technology has made information much,  more accessible for officers in the field. Yet officers are expected to be more diverse often serving as a counselor, being a victim advocate and taking someone into custody all on the same shift, Coats said. 

Good community relationships have helped Coats through his toughest moments as sheriff.   About six or seventh months after becoming sheriff there was a shooting by a SWAT member and death of an individual. Coats said due to the support of the media and the community, the sheriff's office was able to do a thorough investigation and go through the shooting review board process.

Coats came to  the Pinellas County Sheriff's department to join the flight unit. He has served at all command levels over four decades. He was first elected as Pinellas County Sheriff in 2004 after former Gov. Jeb Bush appointed him as interim sheriff. In August Coats announced he would retire on Nov. 7 to support his wife, Cat, who is battling cancer.

Coats said he will miss the people. The camaraderie of those that work in the sheriff’s department and the great community partnerships.

His service to the community has extended to various non-profits. For the last 18 years Coats has served on the Executive Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs. He currently serves on:  Executive Board of Directors of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas County; Clothes to Kids; Pinellas County Police Athletic League (PAL); and Sheriff’s Citizens Academy Alumni Association.

“(Coats) is passionate and concerned about the welfare of children. It didn’t matter the program. It was important to him that he would help these poverty stricken kids,” said Jerry Babcock, Executive Director of Pinellas County PAL.

Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches President Roger Bouchard said Coats and his wife Cat have been very supportive and involved with the program serving as a guest speaker and providing sheriff’s office equipment demonstrations. Coats help raise $680,000 for the youth ranches through a charity golf tournament, said Bouchard.

“Sheriff Coats is very interested in the youth ranches and our kids. We are going to miss him,” Bouchard said.

Comunity leaders agree that Coats' has a common sense approach to problem solving.

“Coats says let’s figure it out. How can we help them? Let’s make it happen,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Major Wayne Morris, who has worked in the county for 32 years.

Coats has helped improve education in Pinellas County. Coats serves on the board of the Pinellas Education Foundation where he secured funding for technical education programs.

“Sheriff Coats has stepped up for education. He committed $l million of forfeiture money to the SkillsEducation USA. The program could not have been possible without Sheriff Coats, (the program) has helped with tremendous advances in technical education…his input has been invaluable in an area where we really needed help,” said Bob McIntyre, former Pinellas Education Foundation board chairman.

Coats  also cares about individual law enforcement officers.  Morris first worked with Coats when he was a commander in the narcotics division in the early 80s. Coats took the time to recognize team members for things done well, Morris said.

"(Coats) made it personal. He made a big impression on the guys. He’s a commander that reached down to the investigator level," Morris said.