Troop D Public Affairs Officer – Florida Highway Patrol
My job responsibilities: Current position as a Lieutenant in the specialty section of the FHP Public Affairs Office. Responsible for conducting all media interviews and disseminating information for statewide and local news media press release. Answer news media inquiries and provide information within public record laws. Coordinate and schedule community engagement events and traffic safety presentations for Troop D’s six counties of: Orange, Osceola, Volusia, Brevard, Seminole, and Lake. Troop D is the largest and busiest area of the state with over 82 million visitors each year.
Serving as the Public Affairs Officer whom is responsible for providing information to the public along with hosting events at schools, churches, civic groups, military and other community functions. Social media coordinator and administrator for FHP’s Troop D Instagram & Twitter page. Posting current events statewide and within the central Florida region while also creating engaging content regarding FHP. FEMA PIO & FBI-LEEDA Media & Public Relations certified.
Additionally, serving as the FHP Assistant Statewide Honor Guard Commander for Special Operations. Appointed as the Assistant Commander for over 50 Honor Guard members throughout the state and assist with coordinating special functions and events. Our Honor Guard members are highly-trained to represent FHP as a specialty unit to render honor, respect, preserve traditions, promote esprit-de-corps, and instill pride and perform ceremonial duties for various events and functions. Our team also attends funerals for in state and out of state officers killed in the line of duty.
Furthermore, appointed member of the FHP Peer Support Team/ Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team. Team members provide physical, moral, or emotional support to all employees including reserve, auxiliary, or retirees and their spouses. Team members are deployed during times of personal or professional crisis in order to help others in their time of need.
Why I joined the Coalition: Traffic Safety is my daily focus and that especially involves reaching out to our new drivers on the road.
Professional Accomplishments:
Professional Law Enforcement Accolades
– Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) State Trooper
– Field Training Officer (FTO)
– Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE)
– FWC BUI/DUI Detection and Seated Battery Field Sobriety Exercises
– Breath Test Operator (BTO)
– Marijuana Impaired Driving Detection Certification
– FDLE & FHP Certified General Instructor
– FDLE High Liability CMS First Aid Instructor
– ASHI CPR/ AED Instructor
– FDLE BRC Report Writing Instructor
– FHP Central FL Recruiter & Background Investigator
– Advanced Background Investigations Certifications
– Advanced/Specialized Interviews & Interrogations Training
– FDLE CJSTC Background Investigations Instructor
– FHP Social Media Coordinator/ Administrator
– FHP Statewide Honor Guard/ Central Region Team
– FHP Sergeant/ Orlando Evening Shift Supervisor
– FTO Sergeant for Recruit Troopers
– FHP Troop D Broken Spoke Club Appointed Delegate
– FHP Lieutenant / Public Affairs Officer (PAO)
– FHP Statewide Assistant Honor Guard Commander for Special Operations
– FHP Troop D & K Promotional Exam Mentor
– FHP Peer Support Team Member
– FDLE De-Escalation Techniques Certified
– UCF Restores Critical Incident Stress Management Certified
– UCF Restores QPR Suicide Prevention Training
– C.O.P.S Traumas of Law Enforcement Certified
– National Council for Well-being Mental Health First Aid Certified
– FEMA Public Information Officer (PIO) Certified
– FBI-LEEDA Media & Public Relations Certified
– Georgia State Patrol Promotional Assessor
K9 Dean Therapy Dog Certifications
– Law Enforcement Investigative Therapy Dog Course
– Multi-Discipline Therapy K9 Team Certified
– Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Paws & Stripes College
– American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen
– AKC Therapy Dog
– AKC Advanced Community Canine
– AKC Urban CGC
– AKC Trick Dog
Professional Awards
– Correspondence Liaison for Academy staff – 2014
-Trooper of the Month Award – July 2015
-Above the Beyond the Call of Duty Award – December 2015
– Trooper of the Month Award – September 2020
– International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP):40 under 40 Award – October 2022
Personal Certifications & Education
– USF Bachelor of Arts (BA) Criminology Degree
-Graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School, Emergence Program (Cohort 2202)
– State of Florida Notary Public
Hobbies or areas of interest outside of work: SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Certification. Fitness advocate by earning Herbalife Nutrition World Team Qualification. Huge movie fan and a Certified Film (35MM) & Digital Projectionist & GDC Digital Server Certified Operator & Technician. Enjoy international travel and learning about other cultures.
What was your favorite song when you were a teenager? Any song by The Spill Canvas.
What make and model was your first car? 93’ Ford Escort
What has changed most about driving from the time you were a teenager to now? Distracted driving by the use of cell phones. Constant connectivity to the Internet.
The one tip I would give any new teen driver would be: Be cognizant of everything happening around you at all times. Driving distracted can have life altering consequences.
