- October 5, 2026
Former Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Joe Barile says he did not plan to resign when he walked into an unexpected meeting with Sheriff Rick Staly on Sept. 10.
In an 11-page statement released after his departure, Barile provided his account of what led to the abrupt end of his nearly 20-year career with the Sheriff’s Office, saying he was given the option to resign after being told he was no longer fulfilling the chief deputy role as Staly expected.
Barile said he and Staly had developed different views on how the agency should be led and that he ultimately felt he could no longer perform the job in the way Staly wanted.
“Yes, I was given the option to resign, which I am thankful Sheriff Staly gave me that opportunity,” Barile wrote. “I could no longer fulfill my role in the way Sheriff Staly expected me to do so. I do not share the same views or opinions as him in many areas, and that is not healthy for any organization.”
Barile also sought to dispel speculation surrounding his sudden departure. He said he was not facing an internal affairs investigation or threat of one and had not resigned because he had accepted another job. He specifically denied a rumor that he was leaving FCSO for Axon, a law enforcement technology company.
Barile also said he did not resign just before becoming eligible for retirement. The 39-year-old said he would have begun his 20th year of service on Jan. 31, 2027, and was still years away from meeting retirement eligibility requirements.
Barile said Staly gave him reasons for believing he was no longer fulfilling his duties as chief deputy, but Barile characterized those reasons as involving “rumors, speculation, opinionated facts, or concerns” that he said had previously been addressed. He said the reasons were not related to his job performance, dedication or disciplinary issues.
Barile acknowledged that his tenure as chief deputy was not without problems. He wrote that after taking the position, he became overwhelmed and stressed and, at times, had a short temper and spoke to employees in ways he described as “unprofessional and unacceptable.”
He said he apologized to the employees involved, sought feedback from command staff and worked to change his behavior. Barile said he informed Staly about the issue and that Staly supported his efforts to correct it.
Barile also described broader differences between himself and Staly over management and leadership. He wrote that he felt he had little authority over operational decisions and said their morals and values differed, while emphasizing that he was not accusing Staly of unethical or illegal conduct.
“I want to make it very clear that I am not accusing Sheriff Staly of ever being unethical or doing anything illegal or anything remotely close,” Barile wrote. “He also never asked me to do anything of the sort.”
Barile then listed several of his own leadership principles, including treating employees as people rather than “tools,” considering merit when making promotions and assignments and not using employees or residents as “political pawns.”
He also criticized the practice of publicizing some arrests on social media.
“I do not believe in publicly shaming people, adults and juveniles, who made one poor decision and putting it on social media as a trophy,” Barile wrote. “We are there to serve and protect the community, not shame and ridicule them.”
Barile had served with FCSO since Jan. 31, 2007, and was appointed chief deputy in January 2025. His assignments over the years included Community Policing, Investigative Services, Homeland Security and the Special Investigation Unit.
When FCSO announced Barile's resignation on Sept. 10, Staly said the agency respected his decision.
“We respect Joe’s decision to resign from the agency and move his life in a new direction. We wish Joe the best in his future endeavors,” Staly said in the FCSO news release.
Barile's resignation letter at the time said he was ready to “start a new chapter” after nearly 20 years with the agency. FCSO also announced that the chief deputy position would remain vacant because of staffing and budget concerns, with the duties divided among the division chiefs, chief of staff and sheriff.
In his new statement, however, Barile made clear that leaving FCSO does not mean leaving Flagler County. He said he has no plans to join another law enforcement agency or move away and intends to remain involved in the community.
Barile said his goal since early in his career had been to one day run for Flagler County sheriff after Staly retired, a goal he said he had openly discussed with Staly as far back as 2016. He did not say in the statement whether he now plans to run for sheriff.
“This is my home, and you are all my family, and no one will take that from me,” Barile wrote. “I do not know what my next chapter holds, but I do know that I will continue to be involved in my community.”
