Candidate: Edward P. Pope

Hello, my name is Ed Pope and I am married with five children. I have been dedicated and very fortunate to not only serve in the United States Navy but also to serve the citizens of Charlotte County as a decorated Florida State Trooper. When I served as a Florida State Trooper, I swore an oath to uphold the laws of our state and to keep our community safe. Now, I am asking you to let me take that oath again as your next Sheriff of Charlotte County. I feel a change in the Charlotte County Sheriff’s office is necessary in order to bring the office back to the prestigious reputation it once had. This is why I have decided to announce my candidacy for the 2016 Sheriff’s race as a NPA (No Party Affiliated). I have always believed that regardless of your political affiliation, the Office of Sheriff should in fact be a NPA race, just as our judges are in this county. I have challenged each Candidate to run on the NPA ticket so that every Charlotte County resident will have the opportunity to select their next Sheriff. When I ran for Sheriff in 2012, I felt that Charlotte County deserved a Sheriff who would not only defend the Constitutional Rights of every citizen of Charlotte County but to also protect and to serve. In order to be a Sheriff, I believe one must follow a high ethical standard in their conduct each day which starts with courage and a willingness to change the status quo. When elected, I promise to be a working Sheriff who will take the politics and corruption out of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office which is why my mission is clear “Protecting People not Politics”. Visit me at http://www.edpopeforsheriff.com or email me at edpopeforsheriff@gmail.com Ed Pope BIO: Education: Currently working on PhD in Public Safety with a Specialization in Criminal Justice at Capella University. Saint Leo University St Leo, FL, United States Master’s Degree Major: Criminal Justice with a Concentration in Critical Incident Management. Florida Gulf Coast University Ft Myers, FL, United States Bachelor\'s Degree Major: Criminal Justice Edison State College Ft Myers, FL, United States Associate\'s Degree Florida Highway Patrol Academy Tallahassee, FL United States State Trooper Major: Law Enforcement Certified Relevant Coursework, Licenses, Training and Certifications: SWAT, Firearms Instructor, State Instructor, Traffic Homicide, Counter Terrorist Response Team, Field Training Officer, Criminal Law, Human Behavior and Diversity, Domestic Violence Investigation, Evidence Collection, Firearms, Defensive Tactics, Traffic Law, Accident Reconstruction and Investigation, Crime Prevention, Vehicle Operations, Community Policing, Hazardous Material Response, Crime Scene, Interviews, Criminal Investigations, FEMA: Introduction to the Incident Command System, FEMA: Decision Making and Problem Solving, FEMA: Leadership and Influence, FEMA: National Incident Management System (NIMS), Investigative Interviews, Advanced Interview and Interrogations, D.A.V.I.D certificate, NCIC/FCIC certified, Court Room Testimony, Human Diversity, Criminal Investigations, Warrant Writing, Evidence Submission, PC and Macintosh Operating Systems, Microsoft Office, Outlook and First Responder. I graduated from the Florida Highway Patrol Academy with both the Presidential and Top Physical Fitness Awards. United States Navy San Diego, CA United States Professional Affiliations: Disabled American Veterans – Member American Legion Post 103 – Member Special Olympics - Volunteer Additional Information: 2012 Sheriff Candidate VFW Charlotte County Trooper of the Year for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Statewide Trooper of the Month unprecedented 5 times. Trooper F Trooper of the Year for 2007 and 2011. Florida Highway Patrol Statewide Trooper of the Year for 2007. Certificate of Commendation from Florida Retail Federation Office of the Year nomination. 2007 State Officer of the Year nomination. Florida Department of Health Caring Hands Award. 2007 Tampa Bay Rays Officer of the Year. 2009 Florida Highway Patrol certificate of Outstanding Enforcement. 2007 Southern Regional International Trooper of the Year. Recipient of the Florida Governor Resolution of 2007 Trooper of the Year. Deputized by the United State Secret Service to protect the President of the United States at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration. Community Involvement: Port Charlotte High School JV Soccer Coach, Soccer Premier, Port Charlotte Little League, Pop Warner Football, YMCA Soccer, Special Olympics, Homeless Coalition, CARE, Big Brother’s Big Sister’s, The Lydecker Foundation, DAV and Habitat for Humanity.