Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell has assigned Maj. Charlie Lee as the new director of the county jail, the first appointment since the county agreed March 28 to let the Sheriff’s Office keep control of the Alachua County Jail.
“With the contract renewal done, this move brings focus, leadership and stability to the jail,” Darnell said in a news release.
Beginning Sunday, Lee, who served as interim director since June 2011, will take his post as the official jail director.
The job includes oversight of inmate services, support services and security operations.
Lee is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for the past 29 years as captain of the Patrol Division, sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division, captain of support services at the jail and deputy director and acting director at the jail. He is also a self-defense and K-9 instructor.
As he continues the next phase of his career, Lee said in a news release that he looks forward to the “continued challenges and rewards” of his job.
During county meetings, Darnell said she wanted to continue to decide who to hire at the jail instead of giving that power to county officials because she is more familiar with the jail’s daily operations.
The County Commission unanimously approved an agreement between the Sheriff’s Office and the county, allowing Darnell to run the jail for the next six years.
Contact Adrianna Paidas at apaidas@alligator.org.
