NEWS AND VIEWS
STORYTELLERS, WE NEED YOU
THE BEST PART OF A SQUAD PARTY IS THE STORIES PEOPLE TELL. Whether sworn or civilian, on the road or in the jail, we all know that person who can keep a room entertained with tales of their experiences. If you’ve listened to 56: A Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Podcast, you know we like to think of it as eavesdropping on a fun and fascinating conversation.
We’re looking for guests who can tell a great story, people who love to talk and entertain. They can be an expert in their field who wants to share information. Or they can just be a great storyteller. We’re looking for members from all around PCSO – part of our mission is to remind the public that we are a diverse agency and there is more to us than patrol deputies. We like funny, scary, or exciting stories, but we love to delve into deep issues too, and we’re not afraid of our feelings. (Well, maybe a little afraid.)
SOME THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
Think the person you nominate will say no? Take a look at some of the guests we’ve had and ask yourself if you ever in your wildest dreams would have thought they’d agree to be on a podcast. You just nominate them and leave the persuading to us.
Worried that they’ll tell THAT story? 56 co-host Laura Sullivan talks with every guest before the recording to figure out what they do and do not want to share. And if you slip up during recording, we’ll edit it out. Remember, we’re not the media, we’re PR – it’s our job to make you look good.
Don’t think you have two hours of stories in you? We have some plans for shorter features in the future, so there may well be opportunities for someone to only talk about a single case, a narrow topic, or just tell one really good story.
So nominate a friend – or yourself – and tell us a little bit about why that person would make a great guest on our podcast. Send nominations to Lets56@pcsonet.com, or catch hosts Laura Sullivan, Ricky Butler, or Ashley Cooley.
NEW WORKER’S COMPENSATION CLAIMS ADJUSTER
MEET OUR NEW ONSITE WORKER’S COMPENSATION CLAIMS ADJUSTER, JENNIFER WADE!
QUARTERLY BRIGHT STAR AWARDS
CORPORAL SHANNON GRILL, LAW ENFORCEMENT
Corporal Shannon Grill was recognized for her diligent and meticulous work investigating a capital sexual battery and child pornography case. The case stemmed from a Homeland Security Investigations case in which a search warrant revealed thousands of images depicting the victimization of two children, ages five and eight. Through tireless investigation, Corporal Grill was not only able to identify the two victims, but also organized the many charges in a way that facilitated prosecution by the State Attorney’s Office.
CORPORAL MICHAEL SCHILLING, DEPARTMENT OF DETENTION AND CORRECTIONS
She will be available every Monday in Human Resources at the SAB.
PLEASE SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS WITH HER DIRECTLY AT (800) 749-3044, Ext. 1327 or email her at Jennifer.wade@us.davies-group.com.
Corporal Michael Schilling was recognized for being a role model, mentor, and leader for new and existing deputies throughout his entire career. From the academy to present, whether on or off duty, Corporal Schilling helps other members achieve their career goals. He has assisted several members in applying for specialty roles, practicing for tryouts, and learning through scenario-based training. Agency members feel comfortable asking Corporal Schilling for help because he is approachable, non-judgmental, and compassionate. His wealth of knowledge, kindness, and encouraging manner are an asset to the agency.
ANALYST CRISTINA ACEVEDO, CIVILIAN
Analyst Cristina Acevedo was recognized for her expertise and dedication during a double homicide investigation. While detectives were attempting to investigate leads on the suspect’s whereabouts, Acevedo utilized her analytical skills to identify a potential location based upon historical reports. Her insights enabled detectives to establish a travel pattern for the suspect, narrowing down the suspect’s whereabouts and ultimately leading to his apprehension. Her proactive approach to all cases, whether supporting homicide investigations or handling routine tasks in fraud and forgery cases, highlights her versatility and dedication.
IMPORTANT BENEFITS REMINDERS
If you wish to participate in the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) with Chard Snyder, enrollment must be completed every year. Enrollment in the FSA does not roll over.
Check out the Wellstar Program flyer on the Member Gateway under the Resiliency & Wellness tab to see what incentives you can qualify for in the upcoming months!
Be on the lookout for future monthly workshops featuring specialized family topics and quarterly retirement workshops held here at the SAB.
Also, check SONET for information on breast cancer awareness and mammograms!
If you have any questions or would like assistance with enrolling, please reach out to the PCSO HR Benefits Staff at 582-2835.
We’re here to help lessen the learning curve and keep you in the know. So, if there’s a specific topic you’d like to see featured in a future edition of News & Views, submit your suggestions to proud@pcsonet.com.
Fiscal Reminders and Tips
The Fiscal Affairs Bureau has some helpful reminders as September 30, 2024 –the end of the fiscal year – approaches:
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Departments should be reviewing amounts remaining on BPAs and adding funds through a purchase requisition process to cover expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year. If an invoice on a BPA exceeds the available limit and is paid, it will automatically close the BPA. If the department decides it should not have been closed and the BPA is reopened to add additional funding, the balances will be off for the rest of the BPA. The best practice is to hold an invoice and wait for funds to be added. If there are insufficient funds in the account to add funds to the BPA, a budget adjustment (BA) is needed.
BPA invoice activity should be reviewed by the department to ensure there are no missing invoices and the correct number of invoices have been processed. For example, a BPA that is for a monthly expense should have nine invoices entered for activity from October through June.
Budgets
Budgets should be reviewed throughout the fiscal year to ensure year-to-date activity is posted to the correct general ledger account. If a department discovers
a transaction was posted incorrectly, send an e-mail to Fiscal_Invoicing@pcsonet. com and a Fiscal Technician will review the transaction and enter a reclass entry to record the expense in the correct general ledger account.
P-Cards
Purchasing card (p-card) transactions should be edited and proposed by p-card users in a timely manner to ensure they are fully approved through Fiscal by the 10th of the subsequent month. The Truist p-card statement is for the billing period from the 28th of one month through the 27th of the following month. Cardholder credit limits do not reset until the Truist invoice is paid, around the 15th of the month. The p-card invoice cannot be proposed until all transactions are approved.
When editing a p-card transaction, ensure the general ledger account entered is the budgeted account. If there are insufficient funds to propose a transaction, a budget adjustment is needed. To ensure a transaction is posted in a timely manner, please monitor the budget adjustment in workflow and notify your chain of command to approve.
P-card transactions that are to be charged to the old year must be completed no later than mid-September to ensure they are processed by both the merchant and Truist Bank in time to be captured on the final (old year) Truist Bank p-card statement.
Invoices
As we approach the end of the fiscal year, it is important to enter all invoices for goods and services received during FY24. The invoice effective date is the date the expense will be recorded in the general ledger. For example, goods and services received on or before September 30, 2024 will be expensed in FY24 (old year). Goods and services received on or after October 1, 2024 will be expensed in FY25 (new year).
Purchases of large projects and expenditures
Fiscal and Purchasing should be notified of any large projects or expenditures which are budgeted for FY24 but may not be delivered or completed by September 30, 2024. These expenditures will be unencumbered when the purchase order is closed and included on a FY25 PO rewrite list for the Sheriff’s approval.
FY25 Travel/Training
For travel beginning in September and concluding in October, the entire expense is charged to the FY25 budget. FY25 travel/ training events paid for in FY24 (advance per diem, registrations, hotel and rental car) will be posted by Fiscal to a prepaid account (001-155-0100) and then reclassed to the appropriate expense account in early October. Departments will process the transaction using the appropriate general ledger account and once the transaction reaches Fiscal, the account will be changed to a prepaid account. It is helpful if the department includes a comment in the description field the transaction should be posted to prepaid.
UNITED Aims to Increase Opportunity, Engage with the Community
BY LAURA L. SULLIVAN
As UNITED continues to expand, Captain Melvin Jackson talks about its mission and why it is a vital part of making the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) better able to serve both its members and the community.
UNITED – which stands for Understanding the Needs of Inclusivity Through Education and Diversity – replaces the former Diversity Council. “The previous Diversity Council primarily attended events to showcase the agency’s diversity to the community,” Captain Jackson said. “While these efforts were valuable, UNITED aims to build upon this foundation by implementing a more comprehensive strategy. The Diversity Council lacked a clear plan for success or ongoing improvement, which led to stagnation and reduced productivity over time.” And so UNITED was born, to revitalize and expand the core mission. “UNITED is committed to becoming the blueprint for achieving sustained organizational success.”
UNITED has both internal and external functions. Within the agency, UNITED encourages the growth of current and prospective members. “Our organization boasts a highly diverse employee population, which presents numerous opportunities but also some challenges such as potential
ignorance and unchecked biases,” said Captain Jackson. “Our goal is to foster an inclusive environment where every agency member feels accepted and valued, enhancing their pride in our organization. We achieve this by promoting open communication, embracing diversity, and ensuring equal opportunities for sustained success.”
Externally, UNITED aims to connect with the community, both to show pride in PCSO and to demonstrate that we often defy expectations of what a law enforcement agency is all about. “These efforts aim to showcase aspects of our agency that are often overlooked by the broader community, countering the perception that our roles are limited to law enforcement.” This, in turn, helps with recruiting to attract diverse, highly qualified applicants.
“By balancing our focus on both internal growth and external engagement, we maximize the potential of our current
workforce and attract top talent,” Captain Jackson said. “This approach benefits both our agency and the community we serve, creating a mutually beneficial relationship.”
UNITED is still developing, but it has a lot of plans for the future and welcomes input from PCSO members. The short-term mission is to let the agency know about UNITED – introducing the council members and spreading the word about its mission. In the medium-term, UNITED wants to increase training opportunities, conduct surveys, and encourage member engagement. Long-term goals involve recruiting and retaining top talent to bring the widest array of skills and perspectives to PCSO.
Ultimately, UNITED’s mission is all part and parcel of making sure PCSO serves the community to the best of its ability. “By successfully implementing UNITED’s ideals, we ensure that PCSO remains a law enforcement agency we are all proud to be a part of, and one that the community is equally proud to rely on.”
UNITED is made up of a council which provides leadership, as well as members from many areas of the agency who contribute to UNITED’s mission. “These members do a lot of work behind the scenes and are integral parts of UNITED’s success. If members are interested in joining, send us an email and we will be in contact.”
UNITED also relies on input from around the agency. Captain Jackson says that anyone with thoughts on how to improve the work UNITED is doing can contact any of the council members or email the group at UNITED@pcsonet.com.
Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Taser Training
BY LAURA L. SULLIVAN
It’s unsettling, a little dizzying at first. The real world vanishes, replaced by a simulation that is so realistic you can see the plants growing in sidewalk cracks, hear the rush of passing traffic, look up and see the moon. You move your arm, and a virtual hand appears, waving, pinching, or grasping a Taser 10.
This is the future, and the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has dived into the world of virtual reality to enhance training. This cutting-edge technology offers an immersive experience that will supplement live role playing and training scenarios in a way that builds speed, accuracy, confidence… and even compassion.
“We have 25 virtual reality sets from Axon,” said Corporal Jim Lancia of the Training Division. Axon manufactures our Tasers and is also the company that does our in-car camera system and body-worn cameras. “Their technology is crazy,” he said. “What you see here is just scratching the surface. We bought this in its infant
stage, and it is amazing, but it will be going even farther.”
The VR Taser handles exactly like a real Taser, and although it is solely for training and is physically incapable of firing actual probes, everything from the grip to the battery to the way it fits in a holster exactly replicates
Members of the Training Division explore the agency’s new Axon virtual reality systems.
the real weapon that every one of our patrol deputies carries. Tasers have enhanced the safety of both our deputies and the people they take into custody, giving them a less lethal way of countering a subject’s threat or attack. Tasers are being used every day. “I’m old school,” Corporal Lancia said. “I was never a fan of the Taser before, but with the Taser 10 I am.” With old Tasers, the cartridge deployed two probes at a time. If one didn’t connect, you had to fire two more. “This one fires more like a handgun. You have 10 probes, and fire one at a time. You stop when you get two good probes connected.”
The VR headset slips over your eyes – even over glasses—and with a few adjustments and a little practice you can navigate through the training scenarios. Instead of a doubleclick, you make selections by pinching your fingers, or by staring at what you want to select. Corporal Lancia set up a safety zone, establishing the perimeter, touching the floor and reaching up to create the boundaries of the virtual world. You can move around, he said, but you can’t run. “If you break the circle, the VR morphs and you can see the real world in front of you.”
The Taser training they plan to roll out soon begins with basic shot placement. To be effective, two probes must hit the correct area at least 12 inches apart and complete the circuit, which results in neuromuscular incapacitation – the subject locks up and falls down. At this level, virtual humans are color coded to show the acceptable and unacceptable places to put probes. Some areas, such as the head and genitals, are off limits, and you shouldn’t hit the zones high on the chest either. The best places to hit are the abdomen, hips, and thighs. “If you get two probes in and there’s no reaction, that means your shot placement wasn’t great,” Corporal Lancia said. “Deploy a third.”
Afterward, the program displays your results so you and the instructor can analyze your performance.
The next round lets you explore Tasering people in different kinds of clothing. “The barbs are long and they come out at 205 feet
per second,” Corporal Lancia said. “They will penetrate a lot, but they won’t go through a heavy jacket. If the person has a jacket zipped up, you can go for the left and right leg.” The scenarios challenge you to evaluate each situation carefully. One person has a heavy apron on, leaving limited targets. Another person looks like he just has a shirt on, but when perfectly placed probes fail to have any effect, you realize he’s wearing multiple hidden layers. Recognizing the problems and adjusting for them is an important part of the process.
Another scenario presents subjects in different positions – sitting, kneeling, or lying down. Finally, you’re faced with mobile targets. “They’re moving so you have to be a little in front of them,” he advised. As the people move faster, you need to adopt a different strategy. “Don’t worry about being perfect and using just two probes. Do what you have to do to drop the person.”
Corporal Lancia said that using VR will improve a deputy’s accuracy, timing, and shot placement. After using it for a while, he’s seen the improvement in his own performance. “I was cautious when I first read about it, but over the last week my accuracy has improved. My out-of-the-holster and shot placement are so fast. I can see this really being a benefit to our agency. Deputies will get better and better, faster and faster.”
It’s cost-effective too. Each real taser cartridge is about $2.30, and it sometimes takes more than two probes to be effective. And just as no deputy is going to feel confident with their firearm after only putting a few rounds downrange, they won’t be truly comfortable with their Taser without a lot of repetitions. With a real Taser, that can get expensive. With VR, they can draw and fire as much as they need to for no additional cost.
Immersed in a virtual world, deputies can perfect their Taser skills and even explore complex community interactions.
What are Heart Rate (HR) Training Zones?
BY JUAN AMPUDIA COSME
We all have a personal resting heart rate, a minimum, and a maximum heart rate. Between these values are different HR zones that correspond to training intensity and training benefit.
Heart rate zones are closely linked to your aerobic and anaerobic thresholds. Understanding this can help when considering heart rate zone exercise, especially for running or training for weight loss.
Five Heart Rate Training Zones:
There are five different HR zones and your training plan can include workouts in all five zones. This HR zones chart shows the level of intensity and percentage of Maximum Heart Rate (HRmax) used in each one.
ZONE 1 – VERY LIGHT
50-60 percent of HRmax
This is a very low-intensity zone. Training at this intensity will boost your recovery and prepare you to train in the higher heart rate zones. To train at this intensity, pick a form of exercise that allows you to easily control your heart rate, such as walking or cycling.
ZONE 2 – LIGHT
60-70 percent of HRmax
Exercising in heart rate zone 2 feels light and you should be able to go on for a long time at this intensity. This zone improves your general endurance, your body will get better at oxidizing (burning) fat, and your muscular fitness will increase along with your capillary density. Heart rate zone 2 is an essential part of every exercise program. Keep at it and you’ll reap the benefits later.
ZONE 3 – MODERATE
70-80 percent of HRmax
Working out in heart rate zone 3 is especially effective for improving the efficiency of blood circulation in the heart
and skeletal muscles. This is the zone in which lactic acid starts building up in your bloodstream. Training in this HR zone will make moderate efforts easier and improve efficiency.
ZONE 4 – HARD
80-90 percent of HRmax
Heart rate zone 4 is where the going gets tough. You’ll be breathing hard and working aerobically. If you train at this intensity, you’ll improve your speed and endurance. Your body will get better at using carbohydrates for energy and you’ll be able to withstand higher levels of lactic acid in your blood for longer.
ZONE 5 – MAXIMUM
90-100 percent of HRmax
Heart rate zone 5 is your maximal effort. Your heart and respiratory system will work at their maximal capacity. Lactic acid will build up in your blood and after a few minutes, you won’t be able to continue at this intensity. If you’re just starting or have only been training for some time, you probably won’t have to train at this intensity. If you’re a professional athlete, incorporate interval training into your training plan for peak performance.
How to Estimate Your Maximum Heart Rate:
Your maximum heart rate can be estimated with a commonly used formula: 220 - your age.
To calculate which training zone you want to be in, use this example:
220 - age = HRmax
Maximum Heart Rate x Zone 2 (.60 or .70) = Heart Rate Training Zone
TASER TRAINING
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
But not everything in this VR package is about firing a Taser. Community resource scenarios allow deputies to experience many of the more complex and stressful citizen interactions they may encounter on patrol. Some of them are standard law enforcement training scenarios: you’re on a traffic stop and the driver jumps out of the car, irate and confrontational, wielding a huge wrench. In choose-your-own-adventure style, you select from a range of reactions and the scenario plays out accordingly.
Others let deputies interact with autistic people, deaf people, an officer in crisis, subjects with cognitive issues like dementia, or mental health problems such as schizophrenia. The schizophrenia scenario was particularly effective because it opened with you playing the part of the person having a schizophrenic episode. You can hear people all around you at the station, but soon the voices in your own head take over. Voices
all around mock you, criticize you, tell you you’re stupid and pathetic, and you start to respond to the voices, lashing out until the people around you react. Then, you switch to the point of view of a law enforcement officer on their way to work, in plain clothes but with badge and gun visible. You have the option of confronting the subject as a law enforcement officer or addressing them as a concerned citizen. If you make the right choices you can learn to establish a rapport, calm the subject, and find a way to get them help without escalating the situation or taking them into custody. Letting a deputy get into the head of a person with schizophrenia before learning how to respond to them gives a much fuller picture. Axon plans to roll out a new training scenario every month.
In addition to being an excellent training tool, VR is also a way to make in-service training more exciting. Some members dread putting in their annual hours, but the novelty of VR can make it more compelling. Although it isn’t officially part of the training, there’s
even a zombie scenario. With animated corpses lurching at you right and left, and even zombie dogs, it’s so much fun that deputies might not notice how the practice is improving their shot placement and speed.
Corporal Lancia says that VR training should be an adjunct to, not a replacement for traditional training. “Will it ever take the place of human contact and role playing? No. But I promise you it helps.” He’s excited about what this will mean for training today – and what the future may hold. Axon is releasing a VR handgun, and a VR rifle should be right around the corner so deputies can transition among options as the situation evolves. Right now, there is only one deputy per scenario, but eventually two or more deputies could train together. “The guy has a knife, do you use a gun or a Taser? One deputy can have lethal, the other less lethal.” He even hypothesizes about future developments. “The logical next step is AI that listens and responds. The possibilities are endless with VR.”
Welcoming a new technology to PCSO means it’s all hands on deck for the Training Division to gain fluency in the system to best prepare for teaching our deputies.
RECOGNITIONS & TRANSITIONS
CHANGES
IN THE TROOPS
LENGTH OF SERVICE
Steve Badgerow 10 Years
Deputy Dom Brissett ............. 10 Years
Deputy Robert Corkum 10 Years
Deputy Jimmy Davis 10 Years
Deputy Sean Dockery 10 Years
Deputy Nathan Elkin ............. 10 Years
Deputy Aly Extine 10 Years
Deputy Becky Hankle 10 Years
Andrea Kass 10 Years
Corporal Stuart Kellman 10 Years
Deputy Dariel Kinsley ........... 10 Years
Deputy Ann Le 10 Years
Tina O'neal 10 Years
Deputy Vassil Raytchev 10 Years
Jonathan Seiler..................... 10 Years
Erikka Smith 10 Years
Deputy Cory Snyder 10 Years
Gary Sun 10 Years
Detective Elisabeth Thomas . 10 Years
Vaughna Tokarz .................... 10 Years
Deputy Ned Ulasi 10 Years
Sandy Weitz 10 Years
Jennifer Carr 20 Years
Sergeant Beverly Ireland ...... 20 Years
Lisa Murphy 20 Years
Sergeant Lon Redmon 20 Years
Deputy Amber Ashford 25 Years
Deputy David Bennett ........... 25 Years
Lieutenant Priscilla Campbell 25 Years
Deputy Daniel Cocciardi 25 Years
Greg Cynar 25 Years
Jerry Falcone 25 Years
Andrew Goldstein ................. 25 Years
Johnnie Hale III 25 Years
Sergeant Richard Heaton 25 Years
Nicole Johnson 25 Years
Corporal Caleb Kurtz ............ 25 Years
Deputy Tony Lorusso 25 Years
Captain Jennifer Nobles 25 Years
Sergeant Chris Platt 25 Years
Deputy Gary Quick II 25 Years
Deputy Scott Shirah .............. 25 Years
Suzanne Tyner 25 Years
Kim Whitesell 25 Years
Deputy Larry Palombo 30 Years
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Shannon Anthony
Investigative Operations Bureau
Intelligence Led Policing Unit
Christine Basile
Judicial Operations Bureau Criminal Court Squad
Corporal Michael Becker Department of Detention & Corrections North Division
Deputy Katherine Cantrell
Department of Detention & Corrections Central Division
Felecia Chatta
Department of Detention & Corrections South Division
Deputy Arizona Cheedy
Department of Detention & Corrections South Division
Kristina Cole
Investigative Operations Bureau Intelligence Led Policing Unit
Deputy Chason Connell
Patrol Operations Bureau North District
Corporal Troy Desmarais
Judicial Operations Bureau -
Alternative Sentencing Unit
Deputy Sean Duckers
Patrol Operations Bureau School Resource Unit
Sergeant Walter Etheridge Department of Detention & Corrections North Division
Deputy Aly Extine
Patrol Operations Bureau Youth Services Unit
Deputy Stephanie Galloway
Department of Detention & Corrections North Division
Sergeant Leah Geoghegan
Patrol Operations Bureau Central District
Sergeant Christopher Giles
Patrol Operations Bureau Central District
Dale Holbrook
Investigative Operations Bureau Intelligence Led Policing Unit
Lieutenant Kim Kilian
Investigative Operations Bureau Threat Management Division
Deputy Anthony Kinsler
Patrol Operations Bureau Community Policing Unit
Leianna Kirkland Department of Detention & Corrections Inmate Records
Deputy Jason Loftus
Patrol Operations Bureau Central District
Deputy Taylor Long
Department of Detention & Corrections
South Division
Detective Kelli Mahder
Investigative Operations Bureau
Narcotics Division
Deputy Don Mast
Patrol Operations Bureau
School Resource Unit
Rachel Mauder
Department of Detention & Corrections
Detention Investigation Unit
Corporal Henry Mcfadden Jr.
Patrol Operations Bureau
Central District
Deputy Logan Metcalf
Department of Detention & Corrections North Division
Corporal Shannon Millergren
Investigative Operations Bureau Crimes Against Children Unit
Lisa Murphy
Support Services Bureau Forensic Science Division
Deputy Adam Sarlo
Patrol Operations Bureau Central District
Deputy Travis Stanton
Patrol Operations Bureau Community Policing Unit
Deputy Dexter Sutherland
Judicial Operations Bureau Alternative Sentencing Unit
Deputy Joe Tancos
Judicial Operations Bureau
Criminal Court Squad
Detective Jim Tanner Jr.
Investigative Operations Bureau Narcotics Division
Sergeant Stephanie Thornton
Investigative Operations Bureau Threat Management Unit
Kelly Wilson
Investigative Operations Bureau Intelligence Led Policing Unit
RETIREMENTS
Leslie Rogers
4/2/24, 14 years of service.
John Darby
4/5/24, 10 years of service.
Suzanne Tyner
4/8/24, 25 years of service.
Sandra Smith
4/10/24, 18 years of service.
Joe Tournai
4/15/24, 23 years of service.
Brant Bickford
4/19/24, 25 years of service.
Bill Zazeckie
4/24/24, 17 years of service.
Ryan Armstrong
4/26/24, 25 years of service.
Patricia Wilbon
4/29/24, 18 years of service.
Mario Velazquez
4/30/24, 18 years of service.
Caleb Kurtz
5/2/24, 25 years of service.
Daniel Cocciardi
5/2/24, 25 years of service.
Mark Zirkel
5/3/24, 25 years of service.
Joshua Rogalski 5/15/24, 6 years of service.
Gina Lazarchik 5/17/24, 18 years of service.
Patricia Farris 5/20/24, 17 years of service.
Sheryl Marten 5/29/24, 8 years of service.
Thomas Marten 5/29/24, 8 years of service.
Kathryn Lowe 5/29/24, 4 years of service.
Patricia Demarco 5/29/24, 20 years of service.
David Robertshaw 5/31/24, 25 years of service.
Kathy Rulison 6/3/24, 11 years of service.
Herbert Porrata 6/3/24, 4 years of service.
Robert Swanson 6/3/24, 25 years of service.
Sean Dockery 6/7/24, 10 years of service.
Jamie Troxel 6/8/24, 9 years of service.
Jeffrey Preising 6/28/24, 33 years of service.
NEW HIRES
Cynthia Amoroso
Public Safety Telecommunicator
Support Services Bureau
Bo Bauman
Reserve Deput
Patrol Operations Bureau
Susan Broward
School Crossing Guard Patrol Operations Bureau
Anya Campbell
Public Safety Telecommunicator Support Services Bureau
Vedad Cerkez
Deputy Recruit DET Department of Detention & Corrections
Jeremy Crady
Public Safety Telecommunicator Support Services Bureau
Marco D'Arduini
Deputy FTO Department of Detention & Corrections
George Daniels
Deputy Recruit DET Department of Detention & Corrections
Leslie Del Toro
Alternative Sentencing Specialist
Judicial Operations Bureau
Due to the changing number of entries in this edition, we apologize for any unintended omissions. For promotions, transfers, and new hires, go to SONET, “Administration,” “Human Resources,” “Changes in the Troops.”
Holly Drumeler
Public Safety Telecommunicator
Support Services Bureau
Dakota Dumont
Fleet Shop Assistant
Support Services Bureau
LaSharndra Duncan
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Karen Emery
Criminal Justice Specialist FTO
Department of Detention & Corrections
Joel Figueroa
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Heather Fiske
Criminal Justice Specialist
Department of Detention & Corrections
Patrick Galdeano
Deputy FTO
Department of Detention & Corrections
Connor Galloway
Criminal Justice Specialist
Department of Detention & Corrections
Dennis Garvey Jr
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Hezron Gomes
Deputy
Patrol Operations Bureau
Diana Guess
Criminal Justice Specialist JOB
Judicial Operations Bureau
Gustavo Guzman
Deputy FTO
Department of Detention & Corrections
Aaron Hall
Inmate Records Specialist III
Department of Detention & Corrections
James Harris
Security Specialist
Department of Detention & Corrections
Kate Hamm
Criminal Justice Specialist JOB
Judicial Operations Bureau
Arthur Harris
Public Safety Telecommunicator
Support Services Bureau
Michael Harris
Deputy FTO
Patrol Operations Bureau
Diane Herrington
Administrative Assistant
Judicial Operations Bureau
Carly Hill
Forensic Science Specialist
Support Services Bureau
Richard Homan
School Crossing Guard
Patrol Operations Bureau
Logan Howard
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Kenneth Jones
Deputy
Judicial Operations Bureau
Charles Kavunedus
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Austen Kirk
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Connor Knight
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Brian Machado
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Joseph Marquis
Deputy
Judicial Operations Bureau
Veronica Mikhalinchik
Registered Nurse Department of Detention & Corrections
Christian Negron
Security Specialist
Department of Detention & Corrections
Todd Olds
School Crossing Guard
Patrol Operations Bureau
Peter Papadami
Classification Specialist Department of Detention & Corrections
Rulishia Perry
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
April Philippe
Public Records Specialist
Chief Deputy
Daniela Popoviq
Administrative Assistant Support Services Bureau
Laraine Ramsey
School Crossing Guard
Patrol Operations Bureau
Jasmine Reyes
Administrative Assistant
Department of Detention & Corrections
Rylan Robinson
Criminal Justice Specialist FTO
Department of Detention & Corrections
William Rodgers Jr
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Ana Rodriguez
Administrative Assistant
Investigative Operations Bureau
Michael Rodriguez
Deputy FTO
Department of Detention & Corrections
Ian Roper
Public Safety Telecommunicator
Support Services Bureau
John Rovi
Fingerprint Technician
Support Services Bureau
Abaigeal Schandel
Inmate Records Specialist III Department of Detention & Corrections
Sydney Schramm
Deputy FTO
Patrol Operations Bureau
Julian Ortiz Serrano
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Kori Simmons
Safe Harbor Technician
Department of Detention & Corrections
John Sleppy
Tactical Paramedic
Patrol Operations Bureau
Stephanie Sullivan
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
Tom Swetokos
Reserve Deputy
Patrol Operations Bureau
Monika Szwakop
Deputy Judicial Operations Bureau
Carolyn Tarsitano
Reserve Deputy
Patrol Operations Bureau
Cindy Telgen
Public Safety Telecommunicator
Support Services Bureau
Alvin Torres
Deputy
Judicial Operations Bureau
Lauren Townsend-Brown
Senior Systems Integration Engineer
PRIME
Andre Walton II
Deputy Recruit DET
Department of Detention & Corrections
CONGRATULATIONS TO DEPUTY JACQUELYN BACKSTROM, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 4256 DEPUTY SHERIFF OF THE YEAR! Assigned to the City of Madeira Beach since 2022, Deputy Backstrom continually upholds her role in the community with professionalism and an above-and-beyond work ethic. This award from VFW Post 4256 is yet another addition to her already impressive resume of accolades from her chain as well as city management officials.
Back in the day, the Detex watchclock was used in the jail to document security checks. Detex watchclocks were first manufactured in the 1920s, and a similar version was used at least through the 1980s. They would insert a paper disk into the back of the watchclock at the beginning of each shift, and the date and time would be stamped on the paper. Every time they did their rounds, they would stop at one of the check stations where the sergeant would insert the key and turn it to stamp the time and location of the check. At the end of the shift the watchclock was opened by the sergeant and the paper disks were collected. They would be stored, and if there was an incident, such as a suicide, they could be pulled for an investigation to make sure the deputies had done the proper checks. Any time the watchclock was opened or closed it would leave an imprint on the paper so the checks couldn’t be falsified. Detex watchclocks were heavy and were dropped often, but they made a great weapon in an emergency.
Don
the
see the Detex watchclock on
area in 1985.
desk. Don Beard was known as a very mild-mannered man – it took a lot to get him riled up, but when he did he was as tough as they come. The inmates always showed him respect. He was known to be in very good shape from all the hiking he did, and was very strong for his age.
Deputy
Beard guards
maximum security
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his