Uploaded February 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
ACSO’s First African-American Deputies:
Walter Jack Coleman was the first African-American Deputy Sheriff to work at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Born in Washington D.C. in 1908, he was hired in 1949, by Sheriff Frank Sexton, shortly after being discharged from the Army as a military police officer. Cleveland Percell Kendall, born in Georgia in 1917, was also hired at the ACSO shortly thereafter and began serving at the age of 32.
In 1952, both Coleman and Kendall helped found the Florida Association of Negro Deputy Sheriffs, as more sheriff’s offices recognized the need for equality and hired more African-American deputies. Coleman later reflected on the earliest days of his career as a deputy sheriff and said the largest obstacle he had to overcome was convincing the African-American citizens that he was a deputy sheriff, as many did not believe he had been hired by the ACSO. Both Coleman and Kendall were also actively involved in moonshine raids in the 1950’s. The picture below is a moonshine bust both assisted with in 1952.
In the 1960’s civil defense planning became a focus of training for the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in the face of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War demonstrations and the Civil Rights Movement. Pictured below, Cleveland Kendall is talking with Stewart “Tiny” Scales during some multi-agency training.
In 1964, Deputy Coleman became the first African-American criminal investigator in the state of Florida and in 1965, the Gainesville Sun wrote an article about his career. Coleman, then 56, was the oldest African-American deputy in the State of Florida and had been promoted to the rank of sergeant, in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division. Pictured below is Sgt. Coleman, head of CID.
When asked what he was most passionate about regarding his work, Walter cited juvenile delinquency. He argued that jail was no place for juveniles, yet at the time, there were little programs in place to help wayward youth. Sgt. Coleman was also heavily involved in the Junior Deputy program at ACSO, which was a precursor to the Explorer Program we know today. In 1966, Sgt. Coleman responded to an active shooter. The suspect shot Sgt. Coleman in the right arm, but he was able to return fire, killing the suspect. Both Coleman and Kendall had memorable and honorable careers at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Coleman died in 1971 and was buried in Lakeland, Florida. Kendall died in 1976 and was buried in the Nelson Cemetery in Alachua County, Florida.
ACSO’s First African-American Deputies:
Walter Jack Coleman was the first African-American Deputy Sheriff to work at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Born in Washington D.C. in 1908, he was hired in 1949, by Sheriff Frank Sexton, shortly after being discharged from the Army as a military police officer. Cleveland Percell Kendall, born in Georgia in 1917, was also hired at the ACSO shortly thereafter and began serving at the age of 32.
In 1952, both Coleman and Kendall helped found the Florida Association of Negro Deputy Sheriffs, as more sheriff’s offices recognized the need for equality and hired more African-American deputies. Coleman later reflected on the earliest days of his career as a deputy sheriff and said the largest obstacle he had to overcome was convincing the African-American citizens that he was a deputy sheriff, as many did not believe he had been hired by the ACSO. Both Coleman and Kendall were also actively involved in moonshine raids in the 1950’s. The picture below is a moonshine bust both assisted with in 1952.
In the 1960’s civil defense planning became a focus of training for the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office in the face of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam War demonstrations and the Civil Rights Movement. Pictured below, Cleveland Kendall is talking with Stewart “Tiny” Scales during some multi-agency training.
In 1964, Deputy Coleman became the first African-American criminal investigator in the state of Florida and in 1965, the Gainesville Sun wrote an article about his career. Coleman, then 56, was the oldest African-American deputy in the State of Florida and had been promoted to the rank of sergeant, in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division. Pictured below is Sgt. Coleman, head of CID.
When asked what he was most passionate about regarding his work, Walter cited juvenile delinquency. He argued that jail was no place for juveniles, yet at the time, there were little programs in place to help wayward youth. Sgt. Coleman was also heavily involved in the Junior Deputy program at ACSO, which was a precursor to the Explorer Program we know today. In 1966, Sgt. Coleman responded to an active shooter. The suspect shot Sgt. Coleman in the right arm, but he was able to return fire, killing the suspect. Both Coleman and Kendall had memorable and honorable careers at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Coleman died in 1971 and was buried in Lakeland, Florida. Kendall died in 1976 and was buried in the Nelson Cemetery in Alachua County, Florida.
