Pinellas County Commissioners OK Sheriff's Pact for Environmental Law

Pinellas County Commissioners approved the annual agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office to provide law enforcement for the county’s environmental lands and preserves. The pact ensures dedicated deputies will patrol sensitive areas, protecting natural habitats and ensuring public safety.

The contract, approved Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, designates two fully certified deputy sheriffs to serve as the Environmental Lands Unit. These deputies, sworn members of the Sheriff's Office, will patrol areas like Weedon Island Preserve, Brooker Creek Preserve, and the waters surrounding Fort De Soto Park and Shell Key. The Pinellas County Parks and Conservation Resources Department will cover the cost for these deputies.

The Environmental Lands Unit Deputies primarily enforce state and federal criminal laws, county ordinances, and regulations from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Parks and Conservation Resources Department. This includes laws concerning marine life, manatee and seagrass protection, fishing, boating, wildlife, and environmental matters. The deputies will also maintain incident reports and provide monthly statistical reports and recommendations to the Parks and Conservation Resources Department.

The annual agreement maintains the ecological integrity of Pinellas County's natural areas while allowing safe public access. The deputies will coordinate law enforcement activities with Parks and Conservation Resources supervisors and other agencies, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.