Flagler County Sheriff's Office history

Governor Hardee appointed J. H. Lipscomb the first Charlotte County Sheriff on May 4, 1921.

In 1924, the Old Flagler County Courthouse was built in a classical revival style (it is currently a private school). The Sheriff’s Office and other county offices were located in this building.

Arthur F. "Fred" Quednau, a Punta Gorda native, defeated Sheriff J.H. Lipscomb in the 1940 election.

The lumber mill of Ed Johnson, Hersey’s Wrecker Service, and the Masonic Lodge #200 – Bunnell’s first Fraternal Organization were all built by 1946.

Travis Parnell, Sheriff Fred Quednau's Chief Deputy and former jailer, ran against Quednau's other deputy, Ira Atkinson in 1957 when Sheriff Quednau decided not to seek re-election.

Illegal moonshine activities flourished into the 1960’s in the rural areas of Flagler County and Sheriff Homer Brooks made it a mission to stamp-out bootleggers.

One of the biggest crimes to occur during Parnell's term as sheriff happened on July 18, 1963 -- an attempted jail break.

In 1964, he ran for sheriff against Sheriff Travis Parnell.

In 1965, the county jail was in need of an additional wing.

Governor Claude Kirk, a Republican, appointed Jack Bent, a fellow Republican, to complete Sheriff Richard Stickley's term of office as Sheriff in 1967.

With the entry of ITT, a development company, in 1969 to Flagler County and the creation of Palm Coast, an influx of families from the New York and New Jersey area began to populate the once predominantly southern communities of Flagler County.

In the 1970’s, when inmates did not like their jail accommodations or meals they would write a letter to the Sheriff.

He first worked in Norfolk County Massachusetts before joining the Lee County Sheriff's Office in 1974.

In 1976, LeBeau ran against Sheriff Bent and defeated him by some 700 votes.

The rotund Edmonson lost 100 pounds following his health scare and was out of office for five months in 1978.

By 1980 Flagler County was transforming to a suburban county.

Bill Cameron began his law enforcement career at the Fort Myers Police Department in 1982 where he worked on road patrol, in narcotics and as a training officer.

Sheriff Sapp returned to office in July 1986.

In 1987, he joined the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

In 1988, Worch ran against Sheriff Sapp and defeated him.

The 1998 fires resulted in 82,000 acres being burned and 263 homes destroyed or damaged.

Since 2001, the county has seen a rotation of Manfre, Don Fleming and Manfre.

In November 2004, John Davenport was elected to be Sheriff of the agency where he had started his law enforcement career almost 27 years earlier.

He was sworn in as Sheriff on January 6, 2009.

Prummell won election in August 2012 to become Charlotte County’s next Sheriff.