Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office

09/13/2026

🔒⭐ WEEK 5 IS COMPLETE! ⭐🔒

The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy wrapped up Week 5, with participants getting an inside look at our Corrections Division!

Participants learned more about the daily responsibilities of our Corrections staff, jail operations, safety procedures, and the important role the division plays in keeping both our facility and community safe.

A special thank you to our Corrections Division staff for taking the time to share their knowledge and experience with our Citizens Academy class. 👏

Five weeks down—and our participants are one step closer to graduation! 🎓

EDUCATE • ENGAGE • CONNECT
Building a Stronger Community Together

💚 Service • Integrity • Community

09/11/2026

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙋𝙖𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙡!

Sheriff Schultz was honored to have the opportunity to swear in this year’s Gilchrist County Safety Patrol members!

Being selected as a Safety Patrol member is more than wearing a sash or helping at school, it’s an opportunity to lead by example, serve others, and make a difference in your school and community. We are proud of each of these students for stepping up and accepting this important responsibility.

To all of our Safety Patrol members: thank you for choosing to serve! We hope you have an incredible school year filled with new experiences, great memories, and plenty of opportunities to make a positive difference.

We are proud of you and excited to see all the great things you accomplish this year!

Have a great year, Safety Patrol!

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 9/11 WE REMEMBER 🇺🇸

The Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office joins our nation in remembering the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

We honor the innocent lives taken, the first responders who ran toward danger, the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the families whose lives were forever changed.

Twenty-five years later, we remember the courage, sacrifice, and unity that followed one of our nation’s darkest days.

We will never forget. 🇺🇸

May we continue to honor their memory through service, integrity, and community.

Sheriff Robert D. “Bobby” Schultz III
Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office

09/08/2026

09/04/2026

Congratulations to Lieutenant Garth Frier on graduating from the prestigious Florida Sheriffs Association Commanders Academy, Class 19!
During this intensive two-week program, Lt. Frier learned from more than 50 experienced sheriffs, law-enforcement leaders, and subject-matter experts. The academy focused on leadership development, ethical decision-making, professional discipline, sound judgment, and preparing commanders to confront the emerging challenges facing law enforcement.
“Strong agencies are built by strong leaders who remain willing to learn, grow, and prepare themselves for greater responsibility. Lt. Frier has demonstrated that commitment throughout his career, and his graduation from the Commanders Academy is another example of his dedication to our agency and the people of Gilchrist County. I sincerely regret that I was unable to attend his graduation, but I could not be prouder of him or this well-earned accomplishment.”

—Sheriff Bobby Schultz

We look forward to seeing Lt. Frier put this valuable knowledge and experience to work at the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office.

Congratulations, Lt. Frier—well deserved!
ONE TEAM, ONE MISSION

09/02/2026

𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝘆, 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻!

The past four weeks of the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy have been filled with learning, laughter, hands-on experiences, and plenty of great conversations!

Our participants have had the opportunity to step behind the scenes and learn more about the many moving parts that make up the Sheriff’s Office. Each week has provided a closer look at the responsibilities, challenges, training, and teamwork that go into serving and protecting Gilchrist County.

Most importantly, this Academy is about building relationships. It gives our citizens the opportunity to ask questions, meet the men and women behind the badge, and gain a better understanding of how and why we do what we do.

We are incredibly thankful for everyone who has participated, our instructors who have shared their knowledge and experience, and all of our GCSO team members who have helped make these first four weeks both fun and very informative!

We’re not finished yet, and we’re looking forward to what the remaining weeks have in store!

09/01/2026

🚨 REMEMBER THIS GUY? HERE’S THE UPDATE. 🚨

On August 6th, Gilchrist County deputies attempted to execute a felony warrant on Terence William Bartges Jr. when he fled from deputies.

Thanks to the quick response of our deputies and the assistance of our law enforcement partners, Bartges was apprehended in Dixie County less than 24 hours later.

Now, here’s the latest:

Bartges is currently being held in the Gilchrist County Jail on FOUR separate cases, with multiple charges and a total bond of $360,000.

His current charges include:

🔹 Sale of Methamphetamine ×2
🔹 Burglary
🔹 Criminal Mischief
🔹 Vehicle Theft
🔹 Resisting an Officer Without Violence
🔹 Fleeing and Eluding
🔹 Driving While License Suspended
🔹 Battery

Bartges also has additional cases and charges pending.
Our goal is simple: keep dangerous and repeat offenders off our streets and work with our law enforcement partners to hold them accountable.

This case is a great example of that effort. When Bartges fled from Gilchrist County, our partners in neighboring agencies stepped up and helped us locate and apprehend him. That teamwork allowed us to get him into custody quickly and safely.

We want to once again thank the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lancaster Correctional Institution K9 Team, and Cross City Correctional Institution K9 Team for answering the call and assisting our deputies.

One Team. One Mission. One less wanted suspect on our streets. 💙🇺🇸

08/31/2026

GCSO STATEMENT REGARDING LICENSE PLATE READERS

Several weeks ago, the Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office voluntarily suspended the use of our license plate readers while we conducted a thorough review of our policies, usage, and accountability measures.

During that review, absolutely no evidence of misuse was discovered. We were exploring how to better strengthen our policies even further to provide additional safeguards, transparency, and accountability regarding the use of this technology.

However, today Governor DeSantis revoked all permits for LPRs that are fixed on state rights of way. In accordance with my duties as Sheriff of Gilchrist County, I have immediately ordered that all GCSO owned and operated license plate readers located in these areas be taken down.

While the tools available to us may change, our mission does not.

The GCSO remains committed to doing everything within our lawful authority to protect the citizens of Gilchrist County, solve crimes efficiently and expeditiously, and hold those who victimize our citizens accountable.

I also want to personally thank everyone who has expressed an opinion on this issue, whether you supported the use of license plate readers or strongly opposed them. I have listened to both sides, and I respect your right to your opinion.

We all love our county, our state, and our nation. We may disagree about the best way to protect them sometimes, but those disagreements should never make us enemies. They should lead to meaningful dialogue, greater understanding, and ultimately better government.

We don't have to agree with each other all the time to respect each other. The freedom to speak our minds, challenge our government, and respectfully disagree with one another is not a weakness of our Republic, it is one of its greatest strengths and one of the reasons our Republic remains the envy of the world.

As your Sheriff, my responsibility remains the same: to follow the law, protect your rights, and do everything within my lawful authority to keep you and your families safe.

Sheriff Bobby Schultz
Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office
One Team. One Mission.

08/27/2026

🚧 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩! 🚧
🚧 ROAD CLOSURE 🚧

Attention, everyone! The intersection of US Hwy 129 and County Road 340 is currently closed due to a traffic crash. Please seek alternate routes to avoid delays.

Emergency services are on the scene, and we’ll keep you updated on the situation.

Please slow down and allow first responders room to work safely.

Thank you for your patience and understanding!