Sunshine Sentinel, through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, obtained the Desoto County Sheriff’s PDF copy of the application used for recruits and applicants. Notably, the document does not inquire about U.S. citizenship.
According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office’s employment application, it is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and a Drug-Free Workplace. The office considers applicants “without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, religion, or any other legally protected status.”
In July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Jamaican national Jon Luke Evans in Biddeford, Maine. ICE reported that Evans allegedly attempted to illegally purchase a firearm while serving as a reserve police officer with the Old Orchard Beach Police Department. Officials said that Evans entered the U.S. legally in September 2023 but overstayed his visa. He reportedly sought the weapon for his job as an officer—a move that triggered an alert to federal agents. This arrest follows a similar case where ICE detained a Congolese national working as a corrections officer who also allegedly tried to unlawfully buy a firearm.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is based in Arcadia, Florida. It serves and protects the residents of DeSoto County—covering approximately 640 square miles and a population of about 35,000—through its four operational bureaus: Detention, Uniformed Patrol, Investigations, and Support. The office is staffed by around 133 sworn and civilian members.
