BY DAN HILDEBRAN
A ceremony billed as marking cooperation between four sheriffs’ offices turned political when Putnam County Sheriff Homer “Gator” DeLoach criticized a former Alachua County Sheriff and endorsed current Sheriff Emery Gainey in his race against challenger Chad Scott.
The Four Corners Agreement, signed by the top law enforcement officers in Alachua, Bradford, Clay, and Putnam counties, allows deputies in one county to cross into another jurisdiction to enforce laws and make arrests.
Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said her deputies recently assisted Bradford deputies during auto thefts at the Keystone Heights RV Park in Bradford County.
“I know we recently assisted Bradford County with some armed suspects that were in the RV resort,” she said, “and it’s because of these agreements that are in place that we’re able to seamlessly do this and seamlessly go after the people that are out here trying to threaten our communities.”
Video produced by the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office:
Cook said the agreement also helps in case a deputy is injured outside his or her home jurisdiction.
Gainesville State Attorney Brian Kramer added that the deal smooths potential conflicts between the three judicial circuits in the four-county area.
The agreement applies particularly to the Melrose area, where the four counties converge.
“This agreement is representative of the cooperation that exists not only between the sheriffs,” said Kramer, “but between the state attorney’s offices and how those crimes will get prosecuted and how we work together to get those crimes done.”
“This agreement does one thing,” said Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith. “It’s about catching the bad guys. It’s about catching those that come in and think we have boundaries, and taking those boundaries away allows us to do the right thing to keep our communities safe.”
Video produced by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office:
DeLoach cited a lapse in the Four Corners Agreement, which he blamed on Gainey’s predecessor. The Putnam sheriff did not name former Alachua Sheriff Clovis Watson. However, Watson’s predecessor, Sadie Darnell, had participated in prior agreements.
Smith acknowledged the lapse in the agreement but did not follow DeLoach’s lead in placing blame.
“We did have a little lapse there,” he said. “I don’t want to go into what the reasons may or may not have been. It might’ve been me, my looks, I don’t know. But all that is set aside.”
The Putnam sheriff also endorsed his Western colleague for re-election.
“It’s no big secret, based on my comments, that I’m a huge advocate of Sheriff Gainey’s,” DeLoach continued. “He has my full and unwavering support in his campaign to retain the position that he’s in. And I hope that all of you who are Alachua County residents will extend that to him as well.”
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