Highlands

Born: Miami, FL, August 8, 1949
Children: Two
Church: Catholic

Monsignor Pace High School; AA degree, Miami Dade Community College, BA degree, Administration of Justice, St. Thomas University; Master’s of Public Administration, Troy State University; Certified Public Manager, Florida State University.; National Sheriffs’ Institute Exec. Level Management Education and Training, 2006 and 2007; numerous law enforcement courses

Physical Education teacher, 1969; Police Officer, Dade County Schools, 1974; Deputy Sheriff, Highlands County Sheriff’s Office, 1979; Administrative Aide, Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, 1980; Dept. of Children and Families, Foster Care Counselor and Protective Investigator, 1986; Highlands County Sheriff’s Office: Deputy Sheriff, 1989; Sergeant of School Resource, 1992; Lieutenant of Administrative Services, 1995; Lieutenant of Criminal Investigations, 2003; elected Sheriff of Highlands County, 2004; re-elected, 2008

Glass Ceiling Award, Florida Federation of Business & Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., 2004-2005; Law Day Award, 2005; Cert. of Appreciation, Police Work Dog Association of Fla., 2005; Certificate of Appreciation, Special Olympics, 2006; chair, Highlands County SHOCAP Team; member, FOP Lodge #99; past instructor: Office of the Attorney General, South Florida Community College, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, FDLE, 1997, and Barry University; National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, 2007; past chair, Community Traffic Safety Team, 1994-1995; past member, Juvenile Justice Council, Juvenile Justice Board District 10, Florida Juvenile Justice Realignment Workgroup, Children’s Advocacy Center Development Team, Avon Park Youth Academy Council; Catechist, St. Catherine’s Church, Sebring, 1996-1999; Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches Board of Directors, 2008-present; chair, Florida Sheriffs Association Board of Directors, 2008 and 2009; secretary, treasurer and current vice-president, Florida Sheriffs Association,  2011; Region 6 Domestic Security Task Force; chair, Recovery Committee for Mission and Endangered Person Information Clearinghouse Advisory Board; chair, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Policy Board, 2010; Miami Dade College Alumni Hall of Fame, 2010; Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, 2010; appointed by the governor to the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, 2010, still a member, 2011.