Lt. Ed Ellinwood began his law enforcement career with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in 1990 as a reserve deputy while operating a small business. Soon afterwards he decided to make law enforcement a full time career. He graduated from the Southwest Criminal Justice Academy in 1990. He served as a road patrol deputy for several years and became a member of the dive team, honor guard and field training officer. In 1994 he was assigned to the investigation unit as detective. He excelled in this position and was made lead detective of the district, overseeing several detectives and monitoring their investigations.

In 1997 Lt. Ellinwood was promoted to corporal and was assigned to the Englewood area. During this time he began to mentor and assist junior officers with his educational and experiences as an investigator. In 2003 he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Port Charlotte area as a road patrol supervisor. Soon afterwards a new assignment was created within the sheriff’s office as a county-wide supervisor, also known as watch commander. Lt. Ellinwood volunteered for the position and accepted the responsibility of overseeing the entire county during his watch. As the responsibilities and challenges of such an assignment became apparent, the Sheriff determined to make this position a lieutenant rank. Lt. Ellinwood successfully tested and was promoted to lieutenant as a Watch Commander.

In 2007 Lt. Ellinwood was given the assignment of District Criminal Investigations-Lieutenant, which involved supervising all District Criminal Investigations, Intelligence Unit and Crime Analysis. While serving in this assignment he also assumed the responsibilities of District Commander of Mid-County District; this district encompassed the area from El Jobean to the Peace River and north to the Sarasota County line.

Lt. Ellinwood was one of the first commanders to volunteer to attend a command level school. In 2006 he successfully completed the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University. During these three months of intense study he passed with high honors. In addition to his extensive specialized law enforcement training, Lt. Ellinwood earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Lynn University. He has been awarded numerous commendations and has received the Sheriff’s Medal three times during his career. He has been recognized for his dedication by the citizens of our community and received Officer of the Year in 2002. He also served in the United States Army for six years in Field Artillery.

Lt. Ellinwood and his wife, Susan, have been married for 26 years. They have one son, Matthew.