PINELLAS COUNTY
Clearwater
James F. "Jim" Coats (R)

Born Corning, NY, January 23, 1944 Education Public schools of Horse head, NY; AA degree, business administration, Saint Petersburg Junior College; BA degree, criminal justice, Saint Leo University; National Aviation Academy, Clearwater, FL; Pinellas Police Academy; FBI National Academy 149th Session; graduate, FBI National Executive Institute; Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute; Secret Service Dignitary Protection School Spouse Cathie Children One Church Methodist Military United States Air Force, 1963-67 Career Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, 1971-present; appointed by Gov. Lawton Chiles as Interim Sheriff of Santa Rosa County, 1992; interim Chief of Police, Indian Rocks Beach, FL, 1993; appointed by Governor Chiles as Interim Sheriff of Gulf County, 1994; Chief Deputy, Pinellas County 1995-2004; appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush as Interim Sheriff of Pinellas County, 2004; elected Sheriff, 2004 Honors and Affiliations Deputy of the Year Award, 1977; graduate, Leadership Pinellas; appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council; appointed by the Governor and Cabinet to Florida Parole Commission's Parole Qualifications Committee, 2006; member, Executive Committee of the Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Task Force; member, Executive Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast and Pinellas County Police Athletic League; member, Pinellas County Charter Review Commission; member, Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Pinellas County Community Policing Alumni Association and Pinellas County Education Foundation; past chair and current member, Pinellas County Community Alliance for Children and Family Services; Florida Bar Grievance Committee, Sixth Judicial Circuit, three years; member, American Legion; delegate to International Terrorism Task Force in Israel, 2003; past member, Governor's Drug Policy Task Force Subcommittee and Law Enforcement Information Sharing /Analysis Committee.

SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Address P.O. Box 2500, Largo, 33779-2500
Phone (727) 582-6200
Web site www.pcsoweb.com

COUNTY DETAILS
County Seat Clearwater
Population 924,413
County Web site www.co.pinellas.fl.us/bcc/