If Sheriff-elect Eric Flowers is as smart and savvy as he wants us to believe, he’ll begin his reign as the county’s top cop in January by promoting Maj. Milo Thornton to undersheriff – and not merely because it would help his agency’s relationship with the Black community at such a tumultuous time in America.
My reasons for endorsing Thornton, in fact, go well beyond the national turmoil over social justice or any concerns about the lingering distrust between the Black community and law enforcement in the wake of the headline-grabbing events of this past year.
Indeed, I’m probably doing Thornton an injustice by mentioning his skin color, which is the least of his qualifications for a job that requires administrative experience, professionalism and knowledge of every aspect of the agency’s operations – all of which he possesses.
While it’s true Thornton has served as a deputy here for only 18 years, he has worked in a wide range of units, including stints on the road patrol and as a detective in the criminal investigations division, and risen quickly through the ranks.
At age 42, he is the third highest-ranking member of the Sheriff’s Office and the highest-ranking Black law enforcement officer in the county’s 95-year history.
One of three majors in the Sheriff’s Office – along with Flowers (Bureau of Law Enforcement) and Selby Strickland (Bureau of Corrections) – Thornton currently heads the agency’s Bureau of Administration, where he oversees human resources, vehicular fleet, records, information technology, courthouse operations, school resource officers, and part of its Homeland Security team.
He’s also been a patrol supervisor and commander of patrol operations, where he oversaw day-to-day road patrols and special operations, including the Traffic, K-9, Aviation and Agriculture-and-Marine units.
Prior to his work with the Sheriff’s Office here, Thornton spent two years as a corrections deputy in St. Lucie County and four years as a patrolman with the Vero Beach Police Department.
For the past 15 years, he has been an instructor at the Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Academy at Indian River State College in Fort Pierce.
Clearly, Thornton has the necessary background to help Flowers, 40, succeed as the county’s 11th sheriff. He also has the community connections needed to create and nurture relationships that can only enhance the agency’s mission.
In addition to his Sheriff’s Office duties, Thornton remains active in the community, working with the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, New Horizons of the Treasure Coast, Crossover Mission, Dasie Hope Center, Sunrise Rotary, Head Start, Dodgertown Elementary Community Partnership, and Substance Awareness Center of Indian River County.
Two years ago, he helped organize what has become an annual Christmas bicycle-giveaway program for underprivileged kids. In years past, he volunteered to coach Vero Beach High School’s freshman football team.
“That makes a difference,” said Teddy Floyd, the Sheriff’s Office’s longtime community relations deputy. “That kind of involvement builds relationships with the kids, their parents, and the entire community.
“The badge is only $11.50,” he added. “It’s the man behind the badge that matters. When you go beyond the call of duty and people see you’re human, they’re more likely to trust you.
“That’s especially true in the Black community, where people tend to see the color of the uniform more than the color of the man.”
So, Thornton would bring some much-needed street cred, too.
Let’s not be naïve, though.
As Tony Brown, president of the county’s NAACP branch, told me: Simply promoting Black deputies – even those with deep community roots – probably won’t be enough to build the two-way trust and cooperation necessary for the Sheriff’s Office to effectively police the black community.
“You need to look deeper than just color,” Brown said. “You need to follow through with citizens review boards and body cameras. You need accountability. That would be more beneficial to us.
“That’s how you gain trust.”
When I called Thornton last week to tell him my plans for this column, he declined comment, saying only that he supports Flowers – he actively campaigned for him – and will respect both the process and the decision.
He’s confident in his abilities, and with good reason: Two summers ago, after promoting him to major, Sheriff Deryl Loar praised Thornton’s leadership, saying, “It wouldn’t surprise me to see Milo as a police chief someday, or in a few years, even run for sheriff.”
Might Thornton someday embark on a run to become the first Black sheriff in Indian River County?
“That’s probably going to scare some people, but I’d be lying if I said the thought hasn’t crossed my mind,” Thornton said in response to Loar’s remark. “There’s no rush, though … I’ve got plenty of time.”
Let’s hope Flowers has the wisdom to make sure Thornton spends that time as his undersheriff, where a loyal, qualified and dependable second-in-command could greatly benefit his administration.
The fact that Thornton is Black is a bonus.