Tommy Ford

Background

About Tommy Ford

I am honored to serve as the Sheriff of Bay County, Florida, where I lead a dedicated team committed to protecting and serving our community with professionalism, service and integrity. With over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, I have had the privilege to work at the local and state levels, including 16 years with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigating violent crime, drug trafficking, and public corruption.Since joining the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in 2009, I’ve worked alongside outstanding professionals to enhance public safety through community partnerships, real-time intelligence, and proactive policing. Elected Sheriff in 2016, I’ve continued that mission by investing in people, technology, and collaboration across agencies.I serve as Chairman of the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission as well as Chair of the Florida Sheriff’s Task Force, coordinating the sheriff’s mutual aid response to disasters and state-wide incidents. I remain active in state-level efforts to improve training, emergency response, and public safety policy. I am a proud graduate of the University of West Florida, the FBI National Academy and the University of Virginia with a master of public safety. I believe deeply in servant leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement.My purpose is simple: to serve the people of Bay County and the state of Florida with integrity and a clear focus on making our communities safer.