Sheriff Henry Ross Whitaker
5th flagler county sheriff (1933–1937)
Sheriff Whitaker was another Alabama native, this time one with a background in law enforcement. Sheriff Whitaker’s experience included police work in Houston County, Alabama where he was a Deputy Sheriff before heading east to Florida. In Florida, he worked as the Auburndale, FL Chief of Police and later the Bunnell, FL Chief of Police. In November 1932, Whitaker was elected as Flagler County's fifth Sheriff. The Flagler County Sheriff's Office was a small rural Sheriff’s Office at that time serving a county population of about 2,500.
The area looked to be rebounding from the Great Depression of 1929, and Sheriff Whitaker dealt with auto theft, robberies, murder, and suicide along with assaults as the population began to increase.
After serving a single term as Sheriff, Whitaker retired from law enforcement after he lost his re-election bid and spent his remaining years in the lucrative turpentine, dairy, and cattle industries.