SJR STATE ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS

MAY 2015

Rick Beseler (1973)
Clay County Sheriff

For more than 40 years, Sheriff Rick Beseler has strived to provide security and stability in Clay County through his work in the criminal justice field. After earning his Associate in Arts degree at SJR State, Beseler went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminology from Florida State University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Florida. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy. His education proved vital as he rose from the ranks of patrol sergeant for the Green Cove Springs Police Department to chief investigator with the State Attorney’s Office, for the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

In 2012, Beseler was elected for a third term as the Clay County Sheriff. Under his supervision, the Sheriff’s Office reports that it has cleared criminal cases at twice the rate of the state average. Sheriff Beseler said that, along with his deputy sheriffs and dedicated staff, he is working to fulfill his goal to continually lower the country’s crime rate.

Outside of the Sheriff’s Office, Beseler holds integral roles in organizations such as the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.

Sheriff Beseler boasts about the impact SJR State had on his life and career. “The foundation laid by my two years at St. Johns River State College fully prepared me to complete my higher education,” he said. “A great education enabled me to attain my dream of becoming Clay County’s top cop.”

 

 

MEDIA CONTACT:
Susan Kessler
Director of Public Relations and Publications
(386) 312-4021