From early law-enforcement pioneers to our current sheriff, this page chronicles the men who have served as sheriff of Bay County — guiding, protecting, and shaping the region’s public safety across generations.
Tommy Ford is the elected Sheriff of Bay County, Florida, with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement. He leads a full-service law enforcement and correctional agency of 580 members, ensuring public safety for residents and visitors. He previously served as Chief Deputy and spent 16 years with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement as a Special Agent and as the Resident Agent in Charge of the Panama City Field Office.
His statewide roles include as Chairman of the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, regulating officer training and discipline standards and Chair of the Florida Sheriffs Task Force, where he coordinates statewide disaster response for Florida Sheriff’s. He is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a bachelor’s in accounting and finance, the FBI National Academy and holds a master’s degree in public safety from the University of Virginia.
3421 N Highway 77
Panama City, FL 32405
5700 Star Lane
Panama City, FL 32404
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