Tommy Lyter, Chief Deputy Sheriff of Escambia County

Chief Deputy Tommi Lyter is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Lyter came to the ECSO with more than 30-years of law enforcement experience, a master’s degree in public administration and is a graduate from the FBI Academy. During his time at the Pensacola Police Department he served on the K9 team, SWAT team, Street Crimes and Investigation Units, he was a Field Training Officer (FTO), and a member of the Dive Team. In 2015, Lyter served as the Assistant Police Chief at the Pensacola Police Department. In May of 2017, he was appointed Chief of Police by then Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward. Deputy Chief Lyter took over the role of Chief Deputy on January 5th, 2021.

The ideals of military life drew Tommi Lyter to law enforcement.

He is the son of a now-retired U.S. Navy master chief. And while growing up on what he calls a "world tour" of moving from place to place, the consistent pillars were characteristics like loyalty and dedication. When Lyter grew up and had to make his own career choices, he was torn between wanting to serve the community and wanting to stay in the Panhandle.

"Looking at it, I think law enforcement is as close as you can get to the military with the same ideals and the same personalities that are involved in it,"