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Whistle Blower Policy

We are committed to a transparent workplace that promotes open discussion of our operations, policies and practices. Additionally, we afford the public full access to all information available for release under the provisions of Florida State Statute 119, Public Records Laws. We encourage employees and the public to develop an understanding of the workings/practices of the Sheriff’s Office and to hold us accountable to the law and the precepts of our mission statement: “Ensuring fair and equal administration of the law, safeguarding civil liberties and preserving public safety; Doing so with professionalism and unity of purpose, while being good stewards of the public’s trust.”

Accordingly, anyone with reason to believe any Sheriff’s employee is violating state or federal laws, rules or regulations is encouraged to report their concerns to a member of the Sheriff’s Office holding the rank of Captain or above, the Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards, or the Undersheriff.

Any employee, volunteer, vendor, or member of the public who reports suspected; misconduct, law violations, fraud, waste or abuse, will not be terminated or otherwise retaliated against for making the report. The report will be investigated and even if determined to be unfounded and without merit, the individual making the report will not be retaliated against, providing reporting is not frivolous, libelous, or fraudulent as defined in Florida State Statute 817.49. There will be no punishment for reporting perceived problems i.e., no termination, no demotion, no suspension, no harassment, or any other type of discrimination or repercussion.

There are several ways to make a report:

  • Verbally submit the report to any member of the Sheriff’s Office holding the rank of Captain or above, or
  • Verbally submit the report to the Sheriff’s Office Division of Professional Standards or,
  • Verbally submit the report to the Undersheriff, or
  • Submit the report in writing to one of the following:
    • Okaloosa County Sheriff’s
      Office of Professional Standards
      50 2nd Street
      Shalimar, FL 32579
    • Undersheriff Charlie Nix
      Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
      50 2nd Street
      Shalimar, FL 32579
  • Submit the report via email to one of the following:
  • Office of Professional Standards at: OPS@sheriff-okaloosa.Org

NOTE: Florida’s “Whistle-blower’s Act” provides protection against retaliatory action to those reporting information. See F.S. 112.3187 to 112.31895 for details.