Daytona Beach, FL – Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson is retiring at the end of his term in December.
An emotional Johnson made that announcement Tuesday morning in a press conference at the Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach.
Johnson – who joined VCSO in 1971 and left as a lieutenant in 1998 before he was elected Sheriff in November 2000 – said it was time for him to step aside so that new blood can come in and lead the law enforcement agency into the future.
He denied that he was leaving office for health reasons after having several recent health scares, including a mild heart attack. He also denied any aspirations for higher office.
Johnson – who was re-elected in 2004, 2008 and 2012 – said he was proud of diversifying the agency though he admitted more work needs to be done in that sense. He also took credit for lowering the county’s crime rates and unifying the county’s 911 dispatch center.
“Much has been accomplished, both within the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office and the local law enforcement community during my tenure in office,” Johnson added. “But it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation and a new leader. Someone with fresh, new, bold ideas. Someone who can take the Sheriff’s Office to that next level of service, success and achievement.”
The 65-year-old DeLand native also noted that he plans to remain active in the community after he leaves office.
Johnson also admitted that he’d like to see an internal candidate take over for him and urged the county to consider paying deputies and support staff better moving forward.
Copyright 2016 Southern Stone Communications.