BY JENNIFER CABRERA

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Sheriff Clovis Watson, Jr., has announced his resignation. In a letter to Governor DeSantis dated July 31, Watson announced his “retirement” effective October 1, “due to my personal health.” The letter said that he had intended to serve out his term, which would run through 2024, “but I have accepted that my health is such that I fear that I may not be able to meet my own expectations for performing my sworn duties.”

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Watson announced on June 20 that he would not be running for re-election and that he was making the “tough decision to step aside and prepare the organization for new leadership that will continue to advance our agency toward the future.”

Watson recently reversed disciplinary actions against three deputies after Judge Donna Keim found that his office had violated their rights under Florida law. A large number of subpoenas were also issued to agency members in April, and State Attorney Brian Kramer’s office told Alachua Chronicle they could not comment on an active investigation.