TOP: Photo Illustration / Henry Frederick / Headline Surfer
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Yet again, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood used TV news cameras and social media to promote himself with antagonistic rhetoric ahead of today's "No Kings" protest rallies.
"Agitators are not welcome," Chitwood tweeted in bold letters. "Any agitators looking to spark violence, cause destruction, commit vandalism or block traffic will be dealt with swiftly and severely."
The Volusia Sheriff then appeared on WESH Ch. 2 News, repeating the same verbiage.
Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey was even more incendiary, and even threatened that his sworn personnel would "kill you, graveyard dead" if they became violent toward deputies.
Ivey vowed Thursday in a press conference: "If you hit one of us, you're going to the hospital and jail, and most likely get bitten by one of our big, beautiful dogs that we have here."
The Brevard sheriff added: "If you throw a brick, a fire bomb, or point a gun at one of our deputies, we will be notifying your family where to collect your remains, because we will kill you, graveyard dead. We're not going to play."
Ivey's blistering comments are part of a pro-Trump anti-immigration campaign that sparked protests in Los Angeles that led the president to order the deployment of National Guard troops and US Marines to counter anti-ICE protestors demonstrating against the recent wave of anti-immigration raids.
Chitwood's verbal bravado is no surprise to law enforcement insiders, who say his thirst for the media spotlight is nothing new and serves no real purpose other than self-promotion, while Ivey's comments are clearly over the top.
Jim Gillum, a retired Pinellas County sheriff who now lives in DeLand, said Chitwood and Ivey have gone out of their way to make news for themselves. What they said is nothing more than drawing attention to themselves," Gillum said, adding that Chitwood has done this publicity-seeking attention for years in front of the TV news cameras. "All of this just encourages people to act out - almost like a challenge - a dare."
Jim Gillum, a retired Pinellas County sheriff who now lives in DeLand, said Chitwood and Ivey have gone out of their way to make news for themselves. What they said is nothing more than drawing attention to themselves," Gillum said, adding that Chitwood has done this publicity-seeking attention for years in front of the TV news cameras. "All of this just encourages people to act out - almost like a challenge - a dare."
Most Central Florida law enforcement agencies issued written statements encouraging protestors to exercise their Constitutional rights to free speech and public assembly today, but to do so lawfully.
Multimedia Video: Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey warns violent protestors: 'If you throw a brick... we will kill you'
Headline Surfer YouTube download / CBS News video / June 13, 2025 / The sheriff in Brevard County, Florida, had an ominous warning about potentially violent protests.
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No Kings protest rallies confirmed in 14 locations here in Central Florida / Published: Fri, 06/13/2025 - 21:20
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