Emery Gainey will take over the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office beginning Oct. 2, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ press release Thursday.
Gainey formerly served as the Marion County sheriff appointed by former Gov. Rick Scott. He went on to work at the Florida attorney general’s office.
Gainey will succeed Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., who has served since winning his election in 2020. Watson will resign Oct. 1 before the end of his term, due to medical problems.
Gainey will be the first Republican to serve as Alachua County Sheriff since 2006.
Contact Alissa at agary@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaGary1.
Alissa is the Fall 2025 editor-in-chief of The Alligator. She has previously been engagement managing editor and university editor, and she has covered stories across UF and Gainesville. She was also an intern at the Orlando Sentinel and The Chronicle of Higher Education. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her cat and take care of her plants.
