Sheriff Jim Manfre announced Thursday that Senior Commander Jeff Hoffman, who just graduated from the FBI Academy last week, has been promoted to the position of Chief Deputy effective April 15, 2015. The promotion follows the recent announcement that Undersheriff Rick Staly will retire next month. That means the undersheriff position is eliminated.
“Sr. Commander Hoffman has been an asset to the agency and to the community,” Manfre said. “By promoting him to Chief Deputy the agency will save a significant amount of money, which follows my original management philosophy of having more deputies on the street to serve the public instead of having high ranking officials in the office.”
Hoffman was making $83,000 a year. Staly was making $105,000 as undersheriff. In his new position, Hoffman will be making $95,000.
“By eliminating the position of Undersheriff, we’ve been able to add first line supervisors and deputies to road patrol. I am also pleased to announce that Corporal Jason Neat and Corporal Jon Welker have been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and Deputy Ryan Emery has been promoted to the rank of Corporal.” These promotions are also effective April 15, 2015.
Hoffman began his law enforcement career with the Daytona Beach Police Department in 1991 where he worked in patrol, public housing, street crimes, crime suppression, narcotics, internal affairs and SWAT. In 2012, he retired at the rank of Captain from the Daytona Beach Police Department where he
was responsible for managing all uniformed patrol operations, including the K9 and Marine Units and a Crime Suppression team. He assisted in strategic planning for numerous internationally known special events to include the Daytona 500, Bike Week and spring break. In 2012, he accepted the position of Chief of Police of the Bunnell Police Department. In late 2013 he was hired by the Sheriff’s Office and appointed to the position of Senior Commander of the Neighborhood Services Division.
Hoffman grew up in the Orlando area graduating from Oviedo High School. He attended Warner University where he attained a degree in Organizational Management. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., on March 20. He is currently enrolled in the Master’s Degree Program in Administrative Leadership at the University of Oklahoma.
David S says
I feel that this a good idea this Sr commander in my opinion has a great deal of law enforcement experiance which is needed here and he graduated from the FBI Academy too.
Ray Thorne says
Major Steve Clair was also a graduate of the FBI academy and had a great deal of law enforcement experience but Manfre fired him without cause. Let’s not forget.
Will (#1) says
Good move by the Sheriff. Good opportunity for Chief Deputy Hoffman!
confidential says
Great move.. Congratulations to the new Sheriff Chief Deputy Mr. Hoffman. Great wait to save taxpayers funds and invest it on our first line of deputies responders.
Jack Howell says
Congrats Jeff! I am sure you are more than capable of handling the job. I want you to succeed. But, here are a few leadership tips to follow as I have led many Marines successfully in combat and on peace. Take care of the troops. In turn, they will take care of you! Further, listen to them. They need to be heard. Just because you have been in other leadership positions, nothing is the same. Build your trust and loyalty and it be will be smooth sailing. Finally, don’t sit your ass behind the desk all day and play 9 to 5. If you do, forget being a great leader. Get your hands dirty with the troops, they like that. I made it to the rank of Colonel of Marines so I think that gives me a little credence.
David S. says
Ray, that slipped my mind when did that occur?
Robert Lewis says
I guess poor Mr.Hoffman drew the short straw.
Ray Thorne says
David O’Brien, also a FBI Academy graduate…Manfre fired him too.
Jim says
Manfre didn’t fire O’Brien, Claire, Birdsong, Weston, Cotoggio, etc…. ALL the firings were done by STALY after he came on Board. He PERSONALLY buried O’Brien w/ his comments of incompetence
Ray Thorne says
My point David is that although it is a nice accomplishment to attend and graduate the “prestigious FBI National Academy, there were others who also attended and graduated who found themselves no longer employed under Manfre. Heck David O’Brien was even Manfre’s chief deputy at one time. All you have to do is search this site (Flaglerlive). Pierre’s diligence in reporting has created somewhat of a timeline of events within the sheriffs office over the past two years. All one has to do is read.
Buddy Negron says
Congrats Chief Deputy Hoffman! Well deserved! And congrats FCSO for taking another fine recommendation from retired Undersheriff Staly, who not only came up with the idea, made the recommendation, but groomed Hoffman for the job, sold it to Manfre, saved the agency money, and saw three additional promotions in the ranks which will help workload and agency morale. Now if Jeff will continue to work closely with all the deputies and employees of FCSO the way Staly did, with Friday night patrols and NOT just sitting behind a desk. That’s the difference between leadership and management. As such, if FCSO is lucky we will have leadership running the agency again, after next election too! Congrats Staly, Hoffman, Neat, Welker, Emery, and Flagler County. Progress, isn’t it a beautiful thing??? ;)
Lena Marshall says
well his girl friend was not the Financial Officer for the Sheriff either, no was she !
Lena Marshall says
Poor, not too bad at 93K, and his girlfriend has a job there too.
Jennifer Trellford says
hoffman is the best policeman in Flagler County and if anyone can do the job it’s him. Neat and Welker are well qualified. I have known Deputy Emery since his days at Putnam. He is the most ethical, well spoken and intelligent road deputy Flagler has. He will exel at this position. I don’t usually agree with Manfre but his choices here are flawless.
William L Butler says
Say did we not have a chief deputy under sheriff Fleming? Did not Sheriff Manfre eliminate that position? Now it is back again. Seems Fleming was right then and now. And yes, O’Brien was Manfree’s chief deputy his first time elected. Major Steve Clair would have made a great chief deputy as well. I do not take away from the fact that so will Chief Deputy Hoffman. It is the management I have issue with. It is getting close to election time again. I cannot wait for the forums. Flagler County, have you remembered yet the past? Thank you for this: “All you have to do is search this site (Flaglerlive). The site’s diligence in reporting has created somewhat of a timeline of events within the sheriffs office over the past two years. All one has to do is read.” Indeed, become educated about what is best for the county. New sheriff Mark ———- oh you you all know who I mean.
Ray Thorne says
https://flaglerlive.com/59859/jeff-hoffman-sworn-in/
How do you promote someone to the same position they were sworn in as in 2013?