Chad Gregory Chronister, born in 1967/1968 in York, Pennsylvania, is an American law enforcement officer and politician who has served as the sheriff of Hillsborough County, Florida, since 2017.
Карта округа Хиллсборо, Флорида
Early Life and Education
Chad Chronister's 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. "Nanu" Jack served his country as a decorated Marine in combat missions at Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima and Guam during World War II. He credits his family, faith and grandfather Jack Bentivegna “Nanu” for instilling his passion for selfless service to others.
Chronister played junior varsity football and ran track before graduating from high school in 1986. He graduated from Saint Leo University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a Master of Science in criminology. He has a bachelor’s in criminal justice and a master’s in criminology from St.
Career in Law Enforcement
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. A veteran law enforcement officer, Sheriff Chad Chronister has served with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office for the past 28 years.
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He became the top law enforcement officer in Hillsborough County on September 30, 2017, upon his appointment by Governor Rick Scott and was elected by the citizens of Hillsborough County on November 6, 2018. Chronister was appointed in 2017 by then-Gov. Rick Scott and subsequently re-elected in 2018 and again in 2020.
Chronister raised more than a half-million dollars for his official 2020 re-election campaign and more than $800,000 for his first election in 2018. That brought his spending capacity in both cycles to well over $1 million. So far this cycle, he faces a familiar foe in Democrat Gary Pruitt. This election will be the third time the two have faced each other at the ballot box.
Controversies and Political Stance
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. Some saw it as a surprising move by Chronister, who is known for defying partisanship, reaching across the aisle and building meaningful relationships that transcend party loyalty.
Worrying criminals were not being prosecuted for their crimes, Chronister supported Gov. Ron DeSantis’ removal of former Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren. While he told the Tampa Bay Times in an interview after the controversial suspension that he appreciated Warren’s passion for criminal justice, he was troubled by his pledges not to pursue certain crimes. It will be months more before it becomes clear whether those choices will affect Chronister at the ballot box - he could bleed support from Warren supporters who previously supported the Sheriff.
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While he mostly followed the law enforcement perspective on how to enforce policy proposals, he prioritized duty over the politicization of COVID-19. That same year, he also directed the high-profile firing of a 21-year HCSO veteran. “Chronister is guided by an instinct to simply do what he was elected to do: enforce our laws.
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. In 2010, Chronister married Nicole "Nikki" DeBartolo, the daughter of San Francisco 49ers former owner Edward J.
A native of York, Pa., Sheriff Chronister is married to Nicole DeBartolo and has two sons, Asher and Zack, and two dogs, Cali and Oreo. “We don’t like to be apart,” said Nikki DeBartolo over a recent lunch the couple snuck in at The Stovall House. Depending on the time of year, those gatherings might range from a Tampa General Hospital Foundation dinner or Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay meeting to the St.
Originally from Ohio, she arrived here in 2000 from San Francisco with her family while Chronister came to Florida from Pennsylvania in 1988. “I think the minute that I put on my uniform and went out for my first shift, I felt like, okay, I’m a part of this community.
“People might be surprised, but it’s the simple things. Sometimes they join friends for dinner at a favorite local restaurant or entertain at home. “We’ll go fishing, grill up fish tacos together and watch the sunset,” he says.
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Community Involvement
His civic associations include board membership positions with Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay and Metropolitan Ministries. Tampa’s philanthropic spirit runs deep. “I like the fact that there are so many philanthropic causes right here at home and that we live in a community where everyone wants to lend a helping hand,” says Chronister.
Those far-reaching causes range from support for domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse and medical emergency survivors through organizations like The Spring of Tampa Bay and The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay to helping fund organizations like Home Runs for Hospice, Metropolitan Ministries, Pace Center for Girls and Starting Right, Now, which targets youth homelessness. The couple attend a fundraising event for the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The private nonprofit organization offers everything from trauma counseling and veterans services to sexual assault counseling and aid with financial distress.
This support extends to the individual level, too, from scholarships for local students to providing Teacher Back to School Grants. Most recently, through a hospice program, the couple met a local university student who had lost her mother and was hoping to pursue a graduate degree in counseling, inspired by the help she had received.
Chad Chronister and his HCSO team were on the ground around the clock in Tampa’s most affected communities during 2024’s unprecedented hurricane season. This fall, that need has most urgently been in the wake of two historic hurricanes in our community over the course of just two weeks-Helene, followed by Milton-that left a devastating impact throughout Tampa Bay and the greater Gulf Coast.
And his brand of leadership is paying dividends. Crime in Hillsborough is down 15%, inmates at the county jail have access to the largest mental health facility in the state and Chronister launched this year a new program training inmates for jobs - vocational or those that require college-level classes - after they’ve completed their sentences.
Recognition and Accolades
Sheriff Chronister has earned many commendations. It only took Hillsborough County’s top police officer about seven years to land in the coveted No. 1 spot on this list. Following his No. “His passion and drive is fueled by his commitment to the safety of our community. He is kind and generous but steadfast in his pursuit for justice. Chronister’s rise has been almost meteoric, landing first on this list near the bottom, at No. 23, but climbing steadily since: to No. 16, then No. 9 and No.
“I can tell you firsthand Chad is one of the kindest and most genuine people you are ever going to meet. Few people know just how generous he and Nikki (Chronister’s wife) are and have been to so many people in our community. I’ve never known Chad to wait to be asked to help. “His proactive and innovative approach to law enforcement, commitment to transparency, and focus on community engagement have set a high standard for public service.
“He’s raised over $3,000,000 for his 2024 Election effort from nearly 2,000 individuals. He routinely holds fundraisers for other politicians like Sen. Rick Scott, the man who first appointed him back in 2017. Being first on a panelist’s list earns the politician 25 points, second earns them 24 points and so on, to where being listed 25th earns a politician one point.
Special thanks go to our experienced and knowledgeable panelists, who were essential to developing the 2024 list: Christina Barker of the Vinik Family Office, Ashley Bauman of Mercury, Matthew Blair of Corcoran Partners, Ed Briggs of RSA Consulting, political consultant Maya Brown, Ricky Butler of the Pinellas Co. Sheriff’s Office, Reggie Cardozo of The Public Square, Ronald Christaldi of Schumaker, Ana Cruz of Ballard Partners, Justin Day of Capital City Consulting, Barry Edwards, Joe Farrell of Pinellas Realtors, pollster Matt Florell of Vicidial Group, Shawn Foster of Sunrise Consulting Group, Adam Giery of Strategos Group, political consultant Max Goodman, Mike Griffin of Savills, Natalie King of RSA Consulting, political consultant Benjamin Kirby, TECO Energy Regional Affairs Coordinator Shannon Love, Merritt Martin of Moffitt Cancer Center, Mike Moore of The Southern Group, political consultant Anthony Pedicini, Ron Pierce of RSA Consulting, J.C. Pritchett, pastor of St. Pete’s Faith Church, Darren Richards of Tucker/Hall, Preston Rudie of Catalyst Communications Group, Amanda Stewart of Johnston and Stewart, and Alan Suskey of Shumaker Advisors.
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