Sheriff Woods releases emotional video, misstates policy with school district

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods speaks during a press conference in Ocala on April 21, 2023. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods on Thursday released an 11-minute expletive-laced video that combined his reflections on 9/11, the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and his strong support for open-carry gun laws. His accusation that the Marion County school district has blocked his office from using gun-detection dogs in elementary schools, however, has prompted pushback from district leaders and raised questions about his claims.

Woods’ video, published on the MCSO’s Facebook account, began with commentary on a First District Court of Appeal decision striking down Florida’s ban on openly carrying firearms.

“Openly carrying a firearm in a peaceful manner will no longer be against Florida law,” Woods said, vowing that his deputies would not enforce the statute that was declared unconstitutional

He linked the ruling to themes of liberty, government overreach and religious faith, saying, “Freedom is never free. It may even cost our life blood. But while we have our lives, defending our God-given freedom is what we will do.”

Woods also tied his remarks to the 24th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and condemned what he called the “political assassination” of Charlie Kirk. He told viewers that “Charlie was assassinated for his beliefs and his faith in God,” even though, at that moment, no suspect or motive for the killing had been established.

Midway through the message, Woods pivoted to a recent incident in which an elementary school student brought a loaded gun onto a Marion County school bus. He praised the bus driver for acting quickly, then leveled criticism at the district.

“My frustration comes from our school district that does not allow me to use my gun-detection dogs in our elementary schools to help provide the best possible protection for our children,” he said.

But records reviewed by the “Gazette” tell a different story.

According to district documents, the policy governing gun-detection dogs was established in 2022, applying to middle and high schools. When asked for evidence of any request by the MCSO to extend the program to elementary schools, Lt. Paul Bloom could not provide a date of any conversation or a written request.

Public records show that Interim Superintendent Danielle Brewer called Woods directly to ask when he had been denied access. Brewer wrote that Woods “acknowledged he had never made the request.”

School Board Chairwoman Lori Conrad, a longtime elementary school teacher, issued a statement calling Woods’ video “surprising and unexpected, particularly since the Sheriff’s legal team was directly involved in the development of our search procedure policies in 2022.”

Conrad said she spoke with Woods after the incident to reaffirm “our shared commitment to student and staff safety” and confirmed a policy review is underway. To date, Woods has not issued a follow-up video correcting his misstatement.

“Our review indicates that elementary schools are not explicitly listed in the policy, though they are not excluded from its scope,” Conrad said. “This presents an opportunity for us to ensure our policies are both comprehensive and responsive. I believe it is imperative that we carefully review our discipline data so that our decisions not only enhance safety but also reflect the needs and well-being of our students.”