Anthony Collins, the former chief deputy of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office who resigned last year amid an academic cheating investigation, is back in public service, this time in the school system. Hillsborough County Public Schools has hired Collins as its new chief of security and emergency management, putting him in charge of threat assessment, emergency preparedness and crisis response across the district, even as questions from his time at HCSO remain on the record.
Hillsborough County Public Schools announced on June 2 that Collins will start on June 3 and will “lead all aspects of school security, including threat assessment, emergency preparedness, crisis response, and community safety initiatives.” The district’s release points to his years of experience overseeing more than 1,600 personnel at the sheriff’s office and his work as incident commander during major emergency operations.
How the HCSO Controversy Unfolded
Collins stepped down from the sheriff’s office in August 2025 after his wife emailed the agency, alleging he had paid someone to complete coursework for him at the FBI National Academy. That message triggered an internal investigation that ultimately identified several other members of the sheriff’s command staff, according to Bay News 9.
Sheriff Chad Chronister later labeled the misconduct a “shortcut” that left the agency with a “black-eye,” while saying he did not believe the behavior rose to the level of criminal conduct. The sheriff’s office said it notified the FBI National Academy and turned over records related to the matter, according to reporting by FOX 13.
District Stands By Hire
In its announcement, Hillsborough County Public Schools quoted Superintendent Van Ayres as saying the new appointments would “strengthen the district’s focus on school safety, employee support, and organizational excellence.” The district also highlighted Collins’ prior oversight of the School Resource Deputies program and his experience running large-scale security operations as reasons he was chosen for the role.
The hiring was first detailed by the Tampa Bay Times, which noted that Collins had been promoted to chief deputy in early 2025, only to resign that August when the cheating allegations surfaced. The paper described the district’s move as significant for both Hillsborough schools and the local law enforcement community, where Collins had been a visible figure.
Legal and Oversight Questions
Sheriff’s office officials have said the conduct reviewed in the cheating probe did not result in criminal charges but did violate professional standards and called for internal discipline. The agency reported the matter to the FBI National Academy, according to Bay News 9. District leaders, for their part, have emphasized that Collins is being brought in for his operational experience, while publicly reiterating their focus on school safety and community trust.
