FLORIDA SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S PERSPECTIVE August 24, 2026 DEAR MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, We held a historic and productive summer conference in Miami-Dade County, celebrating America's 250th birthday with two days of meetings packed with dignitaries and robust discussion on emerging public safety trends. From the federal side, we welcomed FBI Director Kash Patel, White House Border Czar Tom Homan, DEA Administrator Terry Cole, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter, Congressman Byron Donalds, and both of Florida's U.S. Senators, Rick Scott and Ashley Moody. Each speaker shared a common theme: Florida is leading the way in establishing long-term strategies that keep our streets safe. Our state leaders were equally well represented. Governor Ron DeSantis and Lt. Governor Jay Collins, Senate President Ben Albritton, Attorney General James Uthmeier, and Chief Financial Offcer Blaise Ingoglia all addressed attendees. Sheri–s presented Governor DeSantis and Senate President Albritton with our newly recreated Friend of the Sheri–Award, an exact replica of the FSA Memorial on our campus. We appreciated the Governor's kind words about our eight-year partnership and the safer, more prosperous Florida that resulted. We also recognized Clay County Sheriff's Office Victim Advocate Ilka Roncone as our Civilian of the Year and Broward Sheriff's Offce Detective Robert Pence as our Law Enforcement O‰cer of the Year. Both exemplify the dedication found across every sheriff's offce in this state, and I know you will enjoy reading more about their accomplishments in this issue. As we closed the conference, we installed a new board of directors. I want to thank FSA President and Seminole County Sheriff Dennis Lemma for his steady leadership this past year. During his term, sheriffs were actively engaged, multiple legislative victories were achieved, and all sheri–-run programs continued to grow. Marion County Sheri– Billy Woods is now our 104th president, and I know he looks forward to tackling the challenges ahead with the resolve that has defined this association's leaders throughout its history. As we mark the semi quincentennial of the United States, it is worth reflecting on the enduring words of the Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. The elected sheri– has played a pivotal role throughout Florida's 181 years of statehood. If the words spoken at our summer conference are any indication, Florida's sheri–s will remain the elected public safety voice of the governed for the next 250 years. Sincerely, Matt Dunagan Executive Director Florida Sheri–s Association "Protecting, Leading & Uniting Since 1893"

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