Chad Chronister

Last updated

Teresa Card
​
(m. 1992⁠–⁠1995)​
Tammy Edwards
​
(m. 1997⁠–⁠1999)​
Nikki DeBartolo
​
(m. 2010)​
Chad Chronister
Chad Chronister official portrait, 2017.jpg
Official portrait, 2017
30th Sheriff of Hillsborough County
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 30, 2017
Children2
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Law enforcement officer
  • politician
  • SWAT operator
Police career
Allegiance Hillsborough County
Department Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Service years1992–present
Rank Sheriff

Chad Gregory Chronister (born 1967/1968) [1] is an American law enforcement officer and politician who has served as the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida since 2017. On November 30, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Chronister as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. He withdrew himself from consideration on December 3, 2024.

Contents

Early life

Chad Chronister was born in York, Pennsylvania. His parents, Helena Bentivegna and Danny, had a daughter a year later and eventually divorced. Chronister's maternal grandfather, Jack Bentivegna, lived nearby and served as a father figure. Chronister played junior varsity football and ran track before graduating from high school in 1986. After two years at Mansfield University, where he studied business and communications, Chronister moved to Tampa. [1] He graduated from Saint Leo University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of Science in criminology. Chronister later graduated from the 260th session of the FBI National Academy. [2]

Career

Senator Rick Scott and Chronister surveying damage in Hillsborough County after Hurricane Milton Senator Rick Scott and Sheriff Chad Chronister after Hurricane Milton.jpg
Senator Rick Scott and Chronister surveying damage in Hillsborough County after Hurricane Milton

Chronister has served in the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office since 1992, beginning his career as a patrol deputy and SWAT operator. He then served as a detective for several units, including environmental enforcement, warrants, narcotics, and intelligence. Chronister was a supervisor in the Warrants, Narcotics, Intelligence, and Dignitary Protection Detail. He then became deputy commander of the Community Outreach Division, and later the colonel of the Department of Operation Support. [3]

In 2017, Chronister was appointed sheriff after the unexpected retirement of his predecessor, David Gee, who recommended him. [4] As sheriff, he is the co-chairman of the Regional Domestic Security Task Force for Region IV Tampa Bay; vice-chairman, Hillsborough County Public Safety Coordinating Council; and vice-chairman, Hillsborough County Public Schools Oversight Committee. [3] Chronister won elections for sheriff in 2018 and 2020 and was unopposed in 2024. [4]

In September 2020, Chronister's office publicized the names and mugshots of eleven men who were arrested in a local park on misdemeanor charges after agreeing to have sex with undercover male deputies. The focus on gay men, without prostitution or associated public complaints, brought criticism from a state LGBTQ civil rights organization and questions from experts on the subject. [5]

On November 30, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Chronister as Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration. [2] He withdrew himself from consideration on December 3, 2024. [6]

Elections

2024 Hillsborough County Sheriff Election [7]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Chad Chronister (inc.) 0 100%
Democratic N/A00%
Republican hold
2020 Hillsborough County Sheriff Election [8]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Chad Chronister (inc.) 380,977 54.80%
Democratic Gary Pruitt249,38235.87%
No Party Affiliation (NPA) Ron McMullen64,8509.33%
Republican hold
2018 Hillsborough County Sheriff Special Election [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Chad Chronister (inc.) 280,849 54.82%
Democratic Gary Pruitt231,41845.18%
Republican hold

Personal life

In 1992, Chronister married Teresa Card, with whom he has a son, born in 1993. The couple divorced in 1995. In 1997, Chronister married Tammy Edwards, and they divorced in 1999. [1] In 2010, Chronister married Nicole "Nikki" DeBartolo, the daughter of San Francisco 49ers former owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. [4] Chronister became the father of Nikki's son from a prior marriage. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Marrero, Tony (June 22, 2018). "New sheriff won over those in power. The voters? They don't get a say". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 5, 2024. Chad Chronister, 50
  2. 1 2 "Trump picks Florida sheriff Chad Chronister for DEA administrator". ABC News. November 30, 2024. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Sheriff Chad Chronister". Florida Sheriff Association. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 Tisch, Chris (December 1, 2024). "Trump nominates Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister as DEA administrator". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  5. ↑ Evans, Jack (October 15, 2020). "Hillsborough's sheriff publicized a sex sting. Did it target gay men?". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  6. ↑ Jaramillo, Alejandra (December 3, 2024). "Trump's pick for DEA administrator withdraws from consideration". Politics. CNN. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Local candidates". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. August 20, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  8. ↑ "2020 Election Results". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. November 13, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
  9. ↑ "2018 Election Results". Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections. June 5, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.