Candidate: Darby Butler

I, Darby Butler would like to announce my candidacy for Sheriff of Dixie County.

I am a lifelong (46) resident of Dixie County. I am the son of the late Wayne and Flo Butler of Horseshoe Beach, Florida. I am married to Lola Sikes Butler and we have two daughters, Jordan (19) and Maddie (16).

I am a 1991 graduate of Dixie County High School, a 1993 graduate of Santa Fe College, a 1995 graduate of Lake City Community College, and a 2002 graduate of Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy, where I graduated as “Top Gun” of my class.

I first began my law enforcement career in 1994, working as a Correctional Officer with the Florida Department of Corrections and was later promoted to Sergeant in 1997. In 2001, I decided to expand my law enforcement career and became a State Law Enforcement Officer. After completing the rigorous training requirements at Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy, I began serving as a State Law Enforcement Officer in Dixie County.

Since 2002, I have had the privilege of protecting and patrolling as a State Law Enforcement Officer for the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in Dixie County. In 2006, I competed and was chosen to become a member of North Central’s Special Operations Group (S.O.G.). As a member of S.O.G., I have had the opportunity to serve on "special detail assignments", such as assisting the Navy with security at N.A.S. Jacksonville, providing security for the Governors’ Inaugural events, and partnering with Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a joint task force assignment in Key West, Florida (to name a few).

Throughout my twenty-five (25) years in law enforcement, I have diligently worked towards my goal of becoming the Sheriff of Dixie County, displaying integrity and professionalism in both my professional and personal business. I have strived to enhance my knowledge with a magnitude of skills so I could best perform as the type of Sheriff Dixie County citizens expect and deserve. In 2019, I completed three series of strenuous training requirements to become a Law Enforcement Officer Specialist and I only need to complete a few more training areas to become a Master Officer.
Some of the training I have includes:

• The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC): Law Enforcement Training Program  
• Central Florida Community College’s Criminal Justice Institute: Investigative Interviews
• Florida Gateway College’s Public Safety Institute: Field Training Officer
•  Florida Gateway College’s Public Safety Institute: Instructor Techniques 
• Florida Counterdrug Training Academy: Advanced Rural Operation and Tactical K9 Support 
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Personal Radiation Detector Course 
• State of Florida Department of Law Enforcement: Certified Breath Test Operator
• Special Operations Group School (SOG): Patrol Operations 
• Special Operations Group School (SOG): Firearms and Tactics 
• Special Operations Group School (SOG): Maritime Operations
• Injury and Death Investigations 
• Interviews and Interrogations 
• Special Tactical Problems 
• Officer Stress Awareness and Resolution
• Domestic Intervention 
• Human Relations 
• Discipline and Special Confinement Techniques

Electing me as your Sheriff means getting experienced, qualified, and honest leadership.

Over the next few months, I look forward to the opportunity to meet with as many of you as possible. If you would like to meet or speak with me sooner, please don’t hesitate to give me a call at 352-578-4649.

Thank you for your support of me in the upcoming 2020 election.

The Choice for Change!
Darby Butler
#BuildingaBetterFuture
#Butler4Sheriff