Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco resigned from his position late Monday night to pursue a campaign for District 21 State Senate. His chief of staff, Jeff Harrington, has been appointed as the interim sheriff, taking effect at midnight Tuesday under the authority of the Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The interim appointment establishes a leader for the department until the governor officially selects a permanent replacement for Nocco, though the timeline for that appointment remains unclear. Nocco concludes a 15-year tenure as sheriff, having first been appointed by former Florida Governor Rick Scott in 2011. Before assuming the role of sheriff, Nocco worked as a captain and major within the agency, with prior police service experience in Philadelphia, Broward County, and Fairfax County Virginia. Nocco previously announced his intention to depart in May to run against Democrat Jordan Hensley in the upcoming Tuesday election.
Key Points:
- Jeff Harrington, the former chief of staff, is serving as the interim sheriff starting Tuesday at midnight
- The interim sheriff will stay in office until the governor appoints a permanent replacement
- Chris Nocco served as sheriff for 15 years, earning initial appointment in 2011 and being re-elected four times
