The former sheriff has building at sheriff’s self-insurance fund named for him
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN
Editor
Back in 1978, a Letter to the Editor in the Wakulla newspaper complained about an inmate’s treatment at the Wakulla County Jail under then-Sheriff David Harvey, who was a year into his first term and only 26.
The inmate who wrote the letter, Kenneth Revell, complained of mistreatment, medical negligence and brutality and had filed a lawsuit against the sheriff’s office. Noting that the prior sheriff had managed to operate the jail without the request for budget increase that Harvey was seeking, the letter concluded: “Perhaps Harvey, as Florida’s youngest ‘Boy Sheriff,’ should look around for old leadership.”
Harvey fired back a letter of his own the next week, calling the lawsuit a “nuisance lawsuit.”
Almost 50 years later, Harvey sounds still rankled by the case – being called the “Boy Sheriff” as well as having his office’s insurance company cancel their coverage.
At a sheriffs conference after that, Harvey expressed his concern about the insurance problems – and that led to the creation that year of the Florida Sheriff’s Self-Insurance Fund.
After 35 years as Wakulla’s sheriff, Harvey retired and became first executive director of what is now known as the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund, which consists of 59 sheriff’s offices in Florida is the biggest self-insurance fund in the U.S. with assets of more than $400 million.
As of Monday, April 29, a plaque on the outside wall at the front entrance of the building notes it is “In recognition of Sheriff David F. Harvey for his leadership and vision of the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund, Est. 1978.”
Harvey is credited with negotiating the sheriffs’ taking over the operation of the fund in 2013.
Several sheriffs and dignitaries were at the event, including Wakulla’s current sheriff Jared Miller, who praised Harvey as a mentor.
Noting that Harvey is very competitive, with a smile Miller recounted some of Harvey’s achievements: first quarterback at Wakulla High School (in 1967), scored the first touchdown on the first play of the first game at Wakulla High, and married the school’s first Homecoming Queen and Valedictorian – pausing before adding that it was the same woman.
After laughs, Miller noted that Harvey continues to help people in Wakulla County and pushes him to do so.
Florida Sheriffs Association Executive Director Steve Casey noted that Harvey is also a member of the Florida Law Enforcement Hall of Fame.
