One Day Interim: DeSantis Confirms Pasco Sheriff Pick
Gov. Ron DeSantis elevated Jeff Harrington to the permanent post 24 hours after the Sixth Judicial Circuit named him interim leader following Chris Nocco's departure.
By Tomas Rahman ·
Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed Jeff Harrington as the permanent sheriff of Pasco County on Wednesday, November 4. This decision finalized a leadership transition that began just 24 hours prior.
The rapid promotion followed the official resignation of former Sheriff Chris Nocco. Nocco stepped down on the eve of Election Day to take his seat in the Florida Senate after winning the District 21 race. He had led the agency for 15 years before leaving to pursue elected office.
Upon Nocco's departure, the chief judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit appointed Harrington as interim sheriff on Tuesday, November 3. Harrington held the position of chief of staff to Nocco before assuming command of the department. The governor moved to make that appointment permanent on Wednesday.
Harrington brings more than three decades of law enforcement experience to the role. Officials noted that he spent 14 of those years serving directly within the Pasco Sheriff's Office. His long tenure in the agency precedes his current command of the department.
Harrington is scheduled to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 5. The briefing will serve as his first public address to the community in his new capacity. He will use the session to outline initial plans for the agency.
