Captain David Wingate has been a member of the Columbia County Sheriff’s office since April, 1990 when he started as a Patrol Deputy. Captain Wingate has risen through the ranks and served in many divisions. He has supervised a Patrol shift as a Sergeant, managed the Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force as a Lieutenant, and commanded the Detective Division as a Captain before his transfer back to the Patrol Division. Captain Wingate also serves as the SWAT team Commander where he has been an active member since 1991.

Captain Wingate has successfully completed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Chief Executive Seminar and the Criminal Justice Administrations Command Officer Management Program. Captain Wingate is a graduate of St. Leo’s College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal justice.

The School Resource Deputy Program is a nationally accepted program involving the placement of a law enforcement officer within the educational environment. In addition to providing a law enforcement presence at the schools, SRD’s are also role models for the students. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office currently has 19 Deputies assigned to the School Resource Deputy Program on a full-time basis. Together, the School District and the Sheriff’s Office are constantly working to implement new programs and provide students with the safest learning environment in which they can receive a quality education.

The Citizens Service Unit (CSU) was formed in 2006 and is comprised entirely of citizen volunteers who provide non-law enforcement activities which assist in, and enhance the accomplishment of the mission of the Sheriff’s Office. The CSU, organized under the Crime Prevention Unit, is designed to supplement and support, rather than supplant, sworn officers and civilian employees. The duties of CSU members are many and varied, limited only by the restriction that CSU members are not law enforcement officers and have no law enforcement authority. CSU members are assigned tasks as requested by the various elements of the Sheriff’s Office, receive training in these tasks prior to being assigned and work under the direction of Sheriff’s Office supervisors.

You are invited to join our volunteer organization, the Citizens Service Unit via filling out our Support Application.

A Reserve Deputy’s primary duties are to provide additional personnel who are fully trained and ready for call-out during an emergency. They also assist in crowd control during major public events, respond during specified disaster and provide backup services at all levels, as needed. Reserve Officers must conform to all general orders, abide by all policies set forth by the Sheriff of Columbia county Florida, and meet the same standards as any regular deputy. For more information about becoming a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for Columbia County please visit our Resources page or contact our Human Resources Division (386-758-2130).