Volusia County Sheriff announces end of 40-year tenure in law enforcement

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — After serving 40 years in law enforcement, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson announced Tuesday that he will not be seeking reelection..

Johnson has been sheriff for 16 years.

During a press conference Tuesday, he said it was not an easy decision.

“I will leave office in December secure in the knowledge that the agency of which I have dedicated more than four decades of my life is filled with bright, talented, devoted public servants who will continue to make the (Volusia County) Sheriff’s Office and our county shine brightly for many years to come,” he said.

Johnson is a lifelong Volusia County resident who started at the Sheriff’s Office as a deputy in 1971. He became sheriff in 2000.

His only regrets were that he wasn’t able to hire more minorities and that he couldn’t put resource deputies in every school in the county, Johnson said.

“Those two things are things I wished I could have accomplished and didn’t get accomplished,” he said. “I hope the next person can.”

Johnson urged law enforcement and the public to forge a better relationship, saying the select few officers and deputies that overstep nationwide do not represent the vast majority.

“The cops aren’t your enemy,” he said. “The cops are the ones that are there to help you.

“Let’s take and embrace that and work on it and make it better.”

Johnson did not recommend a specific person to replace him as sheriff, but said he would like it to be someone from within the department.

WFTV