About Kerry Crawford

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KERRY CRAWFORD'S BIO

crawford-for-sheriff-portrait-kerry-crawfordI was born and raised in Cleveland, Tennessee. I was raised by hard working parents in a thrifty lifestyle that provided a foundation for me to appreciate everything I work for. I’ve been in Florida since middle school and graduated from Crystal River High School.

I enjoy traveling and outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, golfing, and sports in general.

I am an active member of First Baptist Church of Ocala since 1987. I sing in the choir, have taught Sunday School (7th and 8th grade boys), and have participated in several ministry/mission opportunities. I also sing with the statewide Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra.

I enjoy organizational development, with experience in strategic planning, process improvement strategies and establishing performance measures and goal setting. I’ve provided some pro bono exercises for non-profit groups and government entities to assist them with organizational development.

My daughter Erin, married to Andrew, has blessed me with my first grandson and I’m now convinced that grandparents don’t spoil grandkids…grandkids spoil grandparents! Having a grandson gives me so much! My son Zach lives in Colorado and is living an adventurous lifestyle of hiking, camping, snowboarding, whitewater rafting and rock climbing. I enjoy adventures vicariously through his frequent phone calls to share his stories.

AFFILIATIONS AND INTERESTS

  • Former Member of the Florida Sterling Council Board of Directors, Sponsor of the Governor’s Sterling Award, promoting performance excellence to statewide organizations.
  • Use of Force Expert Witness
  • Appointed to Florida Department of Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Statewide Firearms Task Force as subject matter expert for development of law enforcement and corrections firearms training for the State of Florida
  • Member of statewide Florida Worship Choir (comprised of 450 choir and orchestra members)
  • Organizational Development Consultant (assisted with multiple groups to include Polk County Tax Collector, Children’s Alliance, City of Williston, South Marion Chamber of Commerce and Arnette House)
  • Hunting, Fishing, Lobstering, Golfing, Scuba Diving, Traveling, Photography and Cooking
  • National Rifleman’s Association Member

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

  • Medal of Distinction for Lifesaving efforts with a drowned child
  • Two Medals of Commendation for numerous law enforcement events
  • Medal of Commendation for developing a new model for law enforcement training
  • Unit Citations and Letters of Commendations
  • Fraternal Order of Police, Officer of Year Award

KERRY CRAWFORD'S EXPERIENCE

My career spans thirty-six years serving Marion County as a law enforcement professional. Twenty-six of those years were in a supervisory/management position to include seven years in Senior Command. I have been a leader to Bureaus consisting of over three hundred deputies and led projects that encompassed the entire Sheriff’s Office.

My experience includes being a deputy, enforcing laws and keeping you safe; as a supervisor, coaching and holding deputies accountable; and as an administrator, developing policy, handling personnel issues at every level. My tasks included overseeing strategic planning, critical incident management, process improvement strategies for the organization and cost cutting strategies. This has provided me with a wide ranging knowledge of the community needs, as well as the operation of the Sheriff’s Office.

Marion County Sheriff’s Office, 1980 – 2011

  • Major / Community Policing Bureau Chief (Senior Command Staff)
    • Responsible for approximately 300 deputies/investigators, all district operations and district lieutenants, Communications Division and Records.
  • Major / Watch Command Bureau Chief (Senior Command Staff)
    • Responsible for all patrol daily operations, watch commanders and sergeants as well as all specialty units to include SWAT, Aviation, Crisis Negotiations, Underwater Recovery, Marine Patrol, Traffic and DUI, Bomb Squad, K-9 Unit, Warrants and others
  • Major / Performance Imperatives and Court Services Bureau Chief (Senior Command Staff)
    • Responsible for agency wide organizational development, strategic planning, accreditation processes/compliance and departmental measurements. Additional responsibilities included Bailiff operations (courtroom security) and Civil process/records, and inmate security while at courthouse
  • Assistant Bureau Chief, Watch Command Bureau (Senior Command Staff)
  • Patrol Captain
  • Patrol Lieutenant/District Commander
  • Patrol Sergeant
  • Training Director
  • Patrol Deputy
  • Crisis Negotiation Team Commander

Ocala Police Department, 1975 – 1980

  • Patrolman
  • Corporal
  • Investigator
  • SWAT Team Member

KERRY CRAWFORD'S EDUCATION

Education and training are vital to keep your mind sharp and maintain the edge needed to improve your skills, knowledge and abilities. I believe that you never “arrive” at a point in your career wherein you know it all. Leaders should demonstrate the importance of self-enrichment.

  • Masters of Arts, Criminal Justice, University of Central Florida
  • Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, University of Central Florida
  • Associate of Arts, Central Florida Community College
  • Associate of Science, Criminal Justice, Central Florida Community College
  • University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute, Administrative Officers Course (Class President)
  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission
    • Instructor Level Certifications for High Liability Areas, Firearms, Driving and Defensive Tactics
    • (also conducted several courses to train and certify other instructors)
  •  Advanced Training:
    • SWAT Training, FBI National Academy, Quantico, Virginia
    • Firearms Instructor
    • Driving Instructor
    • Defensive Tactics
    • Crisis Negotiations
    • Underwater Recovery
    • Field Force
  • Several thousand hours of additional law enforcement and management training.

KERRY CRAWFORD'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Leaders should be involved and serve their community. I’ve worked with many organizations for several years, serving on boards and helping with projects. I’ve been honored to serve in a leadership capacity for many of them. This truly supports my desire to become Sheriff. My values are certainly service before self!

  • First Baptist Church of Ocala.   Member since 1989.
    • Involvement has included mission trips, choir, Sunday School Teacher (7/8 grade boys),
    • Usher, Sportsman’s Banquet co-coordinator, special event security, Nominating Committee
  • Graduate Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Ocala/Marion, Class IX
  • Arnette House Board of Directors (Vice-President), 2011 to present
  • Leadership Ocala/Marion Youth Program, Board of Regents, 1996-2000 (Chairman); 2011 to present (Chairman)
  • Leadership Ocala/Marion, Board of Regents, 2009-2011
  • Public Education Foundation, Board of Directors, 1997-2000; 2015 to present
    • Golden Apple Teacher of The Year Selection Process (Past Chairman)
  • Leadership Ocala/Marion Alumni Board of Regents, 2014 to present
  • Marion County Board of County Commissioners Blue Ribbon Task Force on Dog Tethering (Chairman) 2013
  • Marion County United Way Campaign Team member 2015