Thank you for joining us on our Web site. It is our hope that the information contained on this site is helpful to you.

Our primary goal is to protect the citizens of Marion County and to preserve the quality of life with which our county has been blessed. We do so by combining progressive law enforcement ideas with progressive business practices. As a result, you receive the most advanced and comprehensive law enforcement services available for each tax dollar you entrust to us.

We consider it our responsibility to not only enforce the law, but to deter criminal activities from happening in the first place. The best way to accomplish these objectives is through strategic thinking throughout the agency, with everyone involved. This proactive approach to law enforcement results in lower crime rates and higher arrest rates. This is community policing at its best.

We realize that to fulfill our responsibilities to the people of this growing county, this agency cannot stand still. That is why we continually upgrade both our equipment and our skills. Our back-to-basics philosophy means a renewed emphasis on putting more deputies on patrol. We have decentralized our resources and developed specific strategies for each of our 14 districts, which reflect the special needs of the people who live in them.

We also realize that an open and continuing, two-way dialogue with the citizens is essential. We invite you to tell us how we can serve you even better. Our main mission in this value-centered, ethics-based Sheriff's office is to prevent crime and to put criminals in jail in order to preserve and enhance the quality of life we all enjoy.

Thank you for allowing us to serve you here in Marion County now and in the future.

Sheriff Dean was appointed in November 1998 by the late Florida Governor, Lawton Chiles. He was elected as Marion County's Sheriff in November 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Born:
June 9th, 1945 in Los Angeles, California

Married:
Sarah Townley Dean, four adult children, ten grandchildren

Previous Occupation:
Attorney / Businessman

Education:
BA - Michigan State University, with Honors - 1967 JD - University of Florida, College of Law, with Honors - 1970 Graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Executive Institute - 1999 Graduate of FBI Academy Executive Program - 2000

WORK HISTORY:
Legal career began at the Williams Parker Harrison Dietz & Getzen law firm in Sarasota, Florida, in 1970. Practiced law in Gainesville, Florida, and also served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Florida, College of Law from 1972 to 1975. Began business career at Townley Manufacturing Company in Candler, Florida, as Vice President of Operations from 1975 to 1979. Continued business career at the headquarters of Kysor Industrial Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange company as Vice President-General Counsel. While at Kysor also served as President of Dexter Lock Company, a Kysor subsidiary with 500 employees. Returned to Ocala in 1983 to serve as President of Townley Manufacturing Company. Returned to the practice of law in Ocala and founded Dean & Dean, P.A., in 1988. Formed with other members of family, Pro Poly of America, Inc. Pro Poly is a fire truck component manufacturer. Appointed Sheriff of Marion County, Florida, November 1998. Elected Sheriff of Marion County, Florida, November 2000, November 2004 and in November 2008.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Served as board member of the Ocala-Marion Economic Development Council 1990-1995.
Served as Chairman of EDC in 1994.
Named Florida Economic Development Person of the Year in 1995.
Received Rotarian Service Above Self Awards in Marion County in 1996.
Served as Chairman of the Marion County Indigent Health Care Council 1991-1996.
Served a Marion District Chairman of Boy Scouts of America 1992-1994.
Served as Chairman and founding board member of the Marion County Big Brothers-Big Sisters Program in 1993.
Served on Capital Campaign Cabinet for Boys & Girls Club of Ocala 1997-1998.
Served as Chairman of Community Improvement Council in 1996.
Served as board member of the Florida Angus Association from 1991-1999; President 1995-1998.
Served as board member and Vice-Chairman of the North Florida Innovation Technology Corporation 1994-1999.
Served as Director of the Marion Regional Manufacturer's Association 1995-1998.
Served as Vice-Chairman of the Florida Seedstock Council of the Florida Cattlemen's Association 1996-1999.
Served as Chairman of the Northeast Florida Investigative Support Center in Jacksonville 2002 – 2008.
Served as board member of the Silver River Marine Institute of Ocala, an alternative school for troubled youth 1997 - 2002.
Served as Chairman of the Law Enforcement Section of the Region Three, Florida Domestic Security Task Force 2003-2004.
Served as Walk America Co-Chair of the March of Dimes of Marion County 2002-2003.
Served as board member of the United Way of Marion County 2001-2008.
Served as board member of the Success by Six of Marion County 2001- 2004. Served as the Florida Sheriff’s Association representative and Chairman on the Statewide Self-Inflicted Crimes Task Force 2000.
Served as board member of the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches 2000-2008.
Serves as board member of Salvation Army Advisory Board; 1986 - present.  (Chairman in 1989)
Serves as a member of the Human Services Council 1999 - present.
Serves as a board member of the Children's Advocacy Center 1999 - present.
Serves as a board member of the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee 1999 - present.
Serves as Chaplain of the Florida Sheriff’s Association 2001 - present.
Serves as Chairman of the Marion County Children’s Alliance 2001 - present.
Serves on the Steering Committee of the Statewide Cargo Theft Task Force 2002- present; Chairman 2005-2006.
Serves as Co-Chairman of the National Cargo Theft Task Force 2006-present.
Serves as Chairman of the Florida Model Jail Standards Committee 2003-present.
Serves as Co-Chairman of the Northeast Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force 2004-present.
Serves on the Florida Domestic Security Oversight Board 2004 – present.
Serves as a member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency (HIDTA) Executive Board 2004 – present; Chairman 2007.

CHURCH: Attends St. John's Lutheran Church