Shelby County TN Sheriff

Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. was sworn into office as the 47th sheriff of Shelby County in 2018.

Floyd Bonner, Jr. is a lifelong resident of Memphis and Shelby County. As a second-generation law enforcement officer, Floyd Bonner followed the career path of his father who retired from the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. He grew up understanding the importance of serving the community as this was engrained in him by his parents.

As a proud graduate of Hillcrest High School, Floyd Bonner prepared for a career in law enforcement. He successfully earned an Associate degree in Psychology from Jackson State Community College in Tennessee. Later, he completed his academic studies at the University of Memphis earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. While handling the job as the Chief Deputy, he attended the Police Leadership Graduate Program (Southern Police Institute) at the University of Louisville where he was recognized as a Dean’s Scholar.

Floyd Bonner’s law enforcement career began with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office in 1980 as a Deputy Sheriff in the Jail Division. He served in the Uniformed Patrol Division and Narcotics Division where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and later as Lieutenant. In 2001, he was promoted to Captain where he served as the Commander of Patrol Services, the Narcotics Bureau and Internal Affairs. In 2008, he was promoted to the rank of Inspector and served as the Commander of Patrol Support Services which includes Traffic Investigations, Motors, DUI, Reserves, Emergency Services and Volunteer Services. In 2010, he was appointed by Sheriff Bill Oldham to Assistant Chief Deputy where he commanded both the Patrol and the Patrol Support Service Bureau. He transferred to the Civil Process/Levy Squad and Court Services Division consisting of 41 courts within Shelby County in 2012. In August 2015, Sheriff Oldham appointed Floyd Bonner to Chief Deputy, second in command over all law enforcement and jail operations. Floyd Bonner has worked and commanded in every supervisory rank position within the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Throughout his career, he has proven to have extensive experience in leadership and development within law enforcement and jail operations. Sheriff Bonner is a member of the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association, the International Chiefs of Police, and the Memphis Metropolitan Areas of Chiefs of Police. He sits on the Board of Directors at the Family Safety Center as well as the Coordinated Response to Elder Abuse team (CREA). Sheriff Bonner is on the Legislative Committee and the SAVIN Committee with the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association. Floyd Bonner, Jr. and his wife, Audrey, have been married for 39 years. They have two sons, Trey and Elliot. He has always enjoyed spending time with family and he coached youth football when his sons were growing up. He now enjoys spending time with his three grandchildren.

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