Two last-minute candidates have entered the race for Okaloosa County Sheriff, challenging incumbent Eric Aden in the upcoming August election. 

• Edward “Eddie” Perillo and Ron Livingston filed their candidacies shortly before the deadline, setting up a three-way contest for the top law enforcement position in the county. 

The election, scheduled for Tuesday, August 20, 2024, comes at a time when the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has faced scrutiny over two high-profile incidents: the so-called “acorn incident” and the officer-involved shooting death of Airman Roger Fortson.

Edward “Eddie” Perillo

Perillo, a former Okaloosa Sheriff’s Deputy, announced his candidacy in a detailed social media post. He emphasized his ‘deep roots’ in the community, having been born and raised in Okaloosa County, and citing his family’s ownership of the now-closed Joe & Eddie’s Restaurant since 1954.

“I have grown up serving and interacting with the wonderful people of Okaloosa County, giving me a unique understanding of our community’s values and needs,” Perillo stated in his announcement.

Perillo’s platform focuses on “restoring trust, ensuring accountability, and building a safer environment for all families in the county.” He outlined several key priorities, including:

1. Implementing effective, community-oriented policing strategies.
2. Establishing clear protocols and independent oversight for departmental actions.
3. Developing programs to support victims of abuse, mental health crises, and marginalized individuals.
4. Engaging with community leaders and organizations to build trust.
5. Implementing comprehensive training programs for all deputies and staff.

Perillo also touched on personal experiences that have shaped his perspective, including challenges faced by his own son within the justice system. “This has only strengthened my resolve to fight for a better, more just future,” he said.

“I know a lot of the deputies of Okaloosa County personally and understand and know their dedication, challenges, and the support they need to serve our community effectively,” Perillo wrote on social media. “Together, we can create a safer, fairer, and more united Okaloosa County.”

Ron Livingston

Livingston is a Florida State Trooper with over three decades of public service. He highlighted his leadership roles spanning more than 20 years and his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration.

• “I have specialized experience that helps to identify and solve problems that challenge management, plan for short-and long-term strategic plans,” Livingston stated in his campaign announcement. He emphasized his experience in developing training programs and resolving internal organizational issues.

Livingston’s family has a long history in law enforcement and public service in the area. His grandfather served as both a State Trooper and an Okaloosa County Judge, while his father was also a Florida State Trooper.

In his recently updated campaign platform, Livingston outlined several key priorities:

1. Deputy Support: He emphasized creating a work environment that retains talent and supports deputies to ensure community safety and security.
2. Enhanced Training: Livingston plans to increase deputy training in mental health, drugs, and alcohol, particularly focusing on educating children about these issues.
3. Mental Health Collaboration: He proposes partnering with mental health professionals to better equip deputies in addressing community mental health challenges.
4. Drug Epidemic Response: Livingston aims to combat the drug issues in the community, starting with youth education and extending to drug dealer intervention.
5. Transparency: He believes in creating a new level of transparency in the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office to build trust with the community.
6. Restoring Law and Order: Through his focus on change and transparency, Livingston aims to “restore law and order” for county residents.

“My objective is to use my personal, professional, educational experience while in law enforcement to be a humble public servant for the citizens of Okaloosa County,” he said. “I ask for your support to bring change and transparency to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.”

This is not Livingston’s first bid for the sheriff’s position. In 2010, he ran against Larry Ashley, securing 12.27% of the vote (3,446 votes) compared to Ashley’s 43.61% (12,245 votes).

Sheriff Eric Aden

Sheriff Aden, a native of Okaloosa County and graduate of Choctawhatchee High School, began his law enforcement career in the county in 1995 under Sheriff Larry Gilbert. He later served as Operations Bureau Chief under Sheriff Larry Ashley before running unopposed in 2020.

In an interview with Get The Coast, Aden addressed the recent controversies head-on, describing them as “certainly been the most stressful thing that our agency has been through, probably ever.” However, he maintained that his office has been transparent and accountable throughout the process.

“I think it’s the bricks of trust that I’ve built through the community my whole life, being born and raised here,” Aden said, explaining how he’s navigated the recent challenges. “I think that if you’ll ask any of the people that have been involved in this case, that I’ve been transparent, been communicative, been open and certainly been accountable and credible through the process.”

Sheriff Aden emphasized that while the administrative investigation has been completed in the Fortson case, the criminal investigation, conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the state attorney’s office, is still ongoing.

Despite the recent controversies, Aden highlighted several achievements during his tenure:

1. Crime Reduction: Violent crime has dropped nearly 26% during Aden’s tenure. In 2022, the county reported 4,005 violent crimes, which decreased to 2,880 in 2023.
2. Recruitment and Retention: The sheriff’s office boasts a 4% vacancy rate, compared to the national average of 7%. For dispatchers and communications roles, their 16% vacancy rate is significantly better than the national average of 26%.
3. Diversity Initiatives: Women comprise 18% of the force (compared to the national average of 12%) and 11% of leadership roles (compared to 3% nationally). The percentage of persons of color in the department has increased from 10-13% before 2021 to 16% currently.
4. Technology Implementation: Aden created a Real Time Crime Center, utilizing license plate readers and other technologies to enhance law enforcement capabilities. That has been implemented for the past 18 months.
5. Cadet Program: The sheriff emphasized the success of their cadet program in attracting new recruits to law enforcement.

Responding to criticism about the department’s training, Aden defended their programs vigorously. “We have 274 years of law enforcement experience in our training department, 190 of those years all just in training alone,” he stated. He noted that their training facility, built with funds from a half-cent sales tax, is considered state-of-the-art and is used by local and even federal law enforcement agencies.

Looking to the future, Aden expressed his commitment to continuing the use of technology to enhance law enforcement capabilities. He mentioned upcoming projects including a new radio system and an RMS Cad system, which he believes will improve efficiency for patrol staff, the jail, and the judiciary.

As of the latest reporting, Sheriff Aden has raised $147,000.00 for his re-election campaign. Financial details for the challengers were not updated on the Supervisor of Elections website.

Upcoming Candidate Forum

All three candidates have been invited to participate in a forum on Thursday, June 27, at the Fort Walton Beach Civic Auditorium. The event, presented by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, will begin with a “Meet the Candidates” session at 5 p.m., followed by moderated questions and answers.

This forum will provide an opportunity for voters to hear directly from the candidates about their plans for the sheriff’s office and their approach to the challenges facing law enforcement in Okaloosa County.