Candidate: Emery Gainey

Sheriff Emery A. Gainey was born and raised right here in Alachua County. He joined the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in 1982 and worked his way up the ranks to become the Chief Deputy under Sheriff Steve Oelrich.

In 2007, after 25 years of dedicated service, Emery retired from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office to serve as the Director of Law Enforcement and Victim Services for the Florida Attorney General’s Office. Emery has served under three different Florida Attorney Generals, and was Chief of Staff for Attorney General Ashley Moody.

In 2016, Emery was appointed as the Sheriff of the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. After serving the people of Marion County, Emery returned to the Attorney General’s Office before retiring in 2020.

In September 2023, Emery Gainey was appointed as the Alachua County Sheriff by Governor Ron DeSantis. Emery is proud to serve his neighbors once more, and it is his mission to ensure that Alachua County remains a safe and thriving community for years to come.