Interim Clay Sheriff aims to bring stability and support to the sheriff’s office

Jacksonville FL — On Monday, newly appointed interim Clay County Sheriff Matt Walsh laid out how he plans to move the sheriff’s office forward following the suspension of Darryl Daniels last week. Walsh says his goal is to bring stability and support to the agency.

“My appointment is an opportunity to turn the page and to move forward as an agency.” Walsh says.

Walsh comes from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and according to the sheriff’s office, he most recently served as the Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge for FDLE’s Jacksonville Regional Operations Center. Despite coming from FDLE, Walsh says he has nothing to do with the investigation into Daniels.

“When I was with FDLE, I was over the Jacksonville Regional Operations Center. The investigation was done out of a group in Tallahassee.” Walsh says.

He says he’s been in Jacksonville since 2013 and largely doesn’t know anyone within the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

“I’m depending on my command staff, that I’ve already met with and I’m very impressed with, to provide me that information, so I can help steer the ship.” Walsh says.

We reported over the weekend when Walsh was appointed by Governor DeSantis following the suspension of Daniels late last week. Daniels was suspended after he was arrested and charged with giving false reports to law enforcement and tampering with evidence. In a video released shorty after his arrest, Daniels proclaimed his innocence.

Cox Media Group