St. Pete Beach Votes to Replace Police with Sheriff

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office will be adding St. Pete Beach into its jurisdiction.

The referendum to replace the St. Pete Beach Police with the Pinellas County Sheriff has passed.

The plan is scheduled to bring 14 sheriff's deputies, one community officer, one detective and five sergeants in as sworn officers working on St. Pete Beach.

St. Pete Beach Police officers and support staff would be offered positions at the sheriff's office, but they would not be stationed at St. Pete Beach from the get-go. First, they would have to undergo field training and spend time acclimating into the sheriff's office.

Officers who switch to the sheriff's office would be brought in at their current pay. Sergeants would not come in at sergeants, though, and would have to go back through the ranks.