Former Pensacola Chief of Police David Alexander III has pre-filed to run for Escambia County sheriff in 2020. Alexander served in the Pensacola Police Department for 32 years, and in 2015 became the department’s first African-American chief of police. Alexander was forced to retire from the position after just two years because of the requirements of the state retirement program. Escambia County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Chip Simmons, himself the former chief of police from 2010 until 2015, has also prefiled to run for Sheriff. Alexander has prefiled as a Democrat and Simmons as a republican.