T. K. Waters

Thomas Kevin Waters (born December 8, 1970) is an American law enforcement officer and politician serving as the 7th sheriff of Jacksonville since 2022. A member of the Republican Party, he is one of five Black sheriffs currently serving in the state of Florida, as of 2025. In February 2025 Waters was appointed to the new State Immigration Enforcement Council.

Life and education Waters was born at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss in Texas. Due to his father's service, Waters planned to join the Marines but changed his mind when a cousin was killed in 1990 during a robbery in the Ramona neighborhood of Jacksonville.

Law enforcement career Waters joined the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office in 1991 as a corrections officer. He graduated from the Police academy in 1993 and became a patrol officer. Ivey declined to be a candidate in the election and no one received more than 50% of the vote, so a runoff was held coinciding with the regularly scheduled elections in Florida. T.K. Waters ultimately won the race with 55% of the vote compared to Lakesha Burton's 45%. Waters was sworn in on Sunday, November 20, 2022.