Law Enforcement
- Law Enforcement
- Director's Bio
- Patrol
- Investigations
- Support Services
- Contact
Bio - Art May, Director
Law Enforcement Division
EDUCATION:
- St. Augustine High School
- Associate of Science, Vincennes University
- Currently Attending Flagler College
- Southern Police Institute Command Officer Development Course, University of Louisville
- FDLE Chief Exceutive Seminar Senior Leadership Program
POSITIONS HELD- St Johns County Sheriff’s Office:
- Explorer (1975-1979)
- Part Time Patrol Deputy (1980)
- Corrections Deputy (1980)
- Law Enforcement Deputy (1980-1986)
- Detective (1986-1987)
- Law Enforcement Sergeant (1987-1991)
- Law Enforcement Lieutenant (1991-1995)
- Deputy Sector Commander (1995-1999)
- Community Service Unit Commander (1999-2001)
- Programs Bureau Commander (2001-2005)
- Deputy Director of Support Services (2005-2006)
- Colonel, Director of Support Services (2006 to 2010)
- Director of Law Enforcement (2010 to Present)
RECOGNITIONS:
- Sheriff's Commendation- 1981
- Exceptional Service Award- 1989
- Exceptional Service Award- 1991
- Exceptional Service Award- 1993
- Division Directors Award- 1994
Patrol Bureau
Patrol Bureau, commanded by Captain David Messenger, dmessenger@sjso.org, comprised of four (4) shifts providing law enforcement services around the clock to the visitors and citizens of St. Johns County.
The 4 shifts are: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, each supervised by District Shift Commanders holding the rank of Lieutenant. The District Shift Commanders are responsible for all law enforcement actions taken in their geographical area during their tour of duty.
The following District Shift Commanders are assigned to the Patrol Bureau:
The following District Shift Commanders are assigned to the North Districts:
Each District is supervised by a Patrol Shift Sergeant. Our Sergeants are tasked with supervising the patrol deputies that are assigned to the multiple zones within a district. Zones are designated geographical areas located throughout the entire county.
Our deputies who patrol the county are motivated, highly skilled and trained to prepare for any and all situations. They are tasked with a variety of duties that include, but are not limited to preventative patrol, response to calls for service, investigation of all crimes and incidents, arrests of offenders, traffic enforcement, collection and preservation of evidence, collection and reporting intelligence information concerning on-going or planned criminal activity and provide for emergency services during times of disaster. All of our personnel are expected to further the development of relationships between the citizens and visitors of St. Johns County and the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Our patrol deputies receive the most advanced training to keep them on the cutting edge of law enforcement trends and techniques. Many of our patrol deputies take on collateral duties that include, but are not limited to S.W.AT., Hostage Negotiations, Honor Guard, K-9 Handler, Field Training Officer, Mobile Field Force and a variety of other duties.
The Patrol Bureau also has the responsibility of maintaining the Law Enforcement Reserve Unit. This Reserve Unit is comprised of professionals within our community that have taken the time out of their schedule to attend the police academy, which is currently several hundred hours in length. Once they have completed the police academy they volunteer many hours towards our training and evaluation program. This program is also several hundred hours to complete and this consists of class room and field training to prepare them to handle the situations they will encounter while working as a law enforcement deputy.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit consists of Full Service K9's, Bloodhounds, and Single purpose odor detection dogs. The Unit currently has eight(8) Full service dogs which include Criminal Apprehension, Tracking, Article & Building searches with a specialty in an odor detection of either Narcotics or EOD, (1) bloodhound and (1) single purpose narcotics dog which is assigned to a Youth Resource Officer for use in the county school system. The Full service K9's are each assigned to a shift. The K9 program is made up of highly dedicated K9 handlers and we currently have our own in-house State certified K9 instructors in both Criminal Apprehension and odor detection. The unit currently consists of 1 Lieutenant, 2 Sergeants, and 11 handlers.
(More about the K9 Unit)
Lieutenant Tommy Aman, haman@sjso.org the Law Enforcement Staff Assistant is responsible for the coordination of the Field Training & Evaluation Program (FTEP). As the agency continues to grow, the need to train our new deputies becomes even more important. The FTEP program consists of a mini-academy and then four road phases with the new trainee to learn the principles and procedures of the agency. Lieutenant Aman is also the liaison for the Sheriff's office and the Municipal Service District (MSD) and the primary contact person for the MSD. Along with these duties Lt. Aman has the oversight of the Extra Duty details that come into the Sheriff's Office on a daily basis for the deputies to be hired in an off-duty status. Any Patrol Issues that directly affect the Patrol unit along with reports that affect the agency with CALEA are handled through this office.
Investigative Bureau
Investigative Bureau is directed by Commander Charles Bradley cbradley@sjso.org. The bureau is comprised of three units: Field Investigations Unit, Evidence Unit, and the Special Investigations Unit.
The Field Investigations Unit is comprised of the following sections:
- Robbery/Homicide Section - led by Sergeant Howard "Skip" Cole, hcole@sjso.org investigates all violent crimes - aggravated battery, robbery, home invasion, car-jackings, industrial accidents involving serious injury, and conducts crime analytics. The Section investigates all murders, suicides, and other deaths, as well as all unresolved homicides. In 2011 the section was awarded a grant from the Department of Justice specifically to assist with solving "Cold Cases" through the use of DNA analysis and technology.
- Special Victims Section/Cyber Crimes - led by Sergeant William Werle, wwerle@sjso.org investigates sexual battery complaints, crimes against children, domestic violence cases, stalking incidents and injunction violations, and works closely with the Department of Children and Families, Child Protection Team, the Betty Griffin House and the State Attorneys Office. The Cyber Crimes section investigates internet crimes against children, financial crimes, as well as conducts forensic review of computer related crimes.
Evidence Unit - managed by Mrs. Angie Hosford, ahosford@sjso.org is responsible for all crime scene processing, and the collection storage and disposition of evidence.
The Special Investigations Section - led by Sergeant Christine Gazdick, cgazdick@sjso.org and tasked with investigating narcotics complaints by conducting undercover operations including surveillance and drug buys, resulting in the execution of search warrants.
Want to report illegal drug activity? If you have observed any illegal drug activity and would like to advise us about it, email: cgazdick@sjso.org, or call (904) 209-2435 and ask for the Special Investigations Unit.
Support Services Bureau
The Support Services Bureau is commanded by CPT Herb Mier hmier@sjso.org, and is divided into a variety of specialized units and teams, which include the Special Operations Unit, Community Services Unit, and Communications Unit. Each Unit has its own unique function and responsibilities in the day- to- day function of the SJSO. All of the areas of the Support Services Bureau require specialized training, a strong dedication to duty and the best supervision possible.
The Bureau is responsible for answering every incoming call for service received in the communication center and dispatching help, to working with our youth in schools through programs such as ACE, to a high liability deployment of the SWAT team.
Support Services is set up as follows:
- Special Operations Unit - Weed and Seed, Civil Citation, Aviation Unit, Community Oriented Policing Unit, Beach and Special Event Unit, Public Service Assistants, SWAT, CNT Crisis Negotiation Team, CIT Crisis Intervention Team, Mobile Field Force, Bomb EOD Unit, Dive Team, Mobile Command Team and Marine Unit.
- Communications Unit - Communications Unit (dispatch), Switchboard, FCIC and NCIC validations, Alarm Enforcement, Radio Repair and Installation, and E-911 Addressing.
- Youth Services - Youth Services is under the direction of Lt. Brian C. Lee (bclee@sjso.org ), and is comprised of the School Resource Program and Youth Community Programs.
- School Resource Program - The Sheriff's Office partners with the St. Johns County School District to provide crime prevention, intervention and law enforcement services throughout the schools in St. Johns County. Our partnership is recognized in the State of Florida as a leading model. A testimony to the professionalism and efforts of the Youth Resource Deputies is the recent selection of Deputy Sean Tice as the Florida Attorney General's State School Resource Officer of the Year recipient for 2008. Dep. Tice exemplifies the dedication that is shared by all of his fellow Youth Resource Deputies.
Many youth today are on a first name basis with their Youth Resource Deputy due to a mutual trust that is developed through positive contact and life lessons. Law enforcement plays a vital role in the safety, security and education of our students. Youth Resource Deputies teach our youth about the significance of their daily decisions in all walks of life from substance abuse to leadership training. They also provide daily counseling to our youth to assist them to make good decisions and encourage them in times of need. Many youth today rely on their Youth Resource Deputy as a guidepost to navigate through life on and off the school campus.
In the area of school safety and security the Youth Resource Deputies are part of the first line of defense to promote a safe learning environment. The Youth Resource Deputies work with School Staff to make our schools hard targets for crime and threats towards public safety.
- Community Youth Programs - The Community Youth Programs Section is part of the St. Johns County Police Athletic and Activities League; which is a not for profit crime prevention organization sponsored by the Sheriff. The Youth Programs Section is responsible for coordinating the Sheriff's youth crime prevention services to include: Explorer Post 911, PAL and other crime prevention and child safety programs. Program information can be obtained by contacting (904) 829-9438.
Explorer Post 911
The Sheriff's Explorers Program works with middle and high school age youth (age 14+) to involve them with the law enforcement profession. The Explorers are engaged in activities to include: training, ride-a-long opportunities with deputies, community service, competitions, mentoring, and leadership opportunities. The Explorers Post has a long history in the Sheriff's Office and is recognized as a starting point to becoming a law enforcement officer. Col. Art May who serves on the Sheriff's Executive Staff began his career as an Explorer as well as many other deputies who serve in the communities today. For more information on Explorer Post 911, please contact Deputy Glen English at (904) 829-9438, or genglish@sjso.org .
Police Athletic League (PAL)
The Sheriff's Office Police Athletic League sponsors sports and after school activities throughout St. Johns County. PAL just completed its inaugural year with Junior Developmental Football and Cheer; serving over 160 children. The Sheriff's PAL "All-Stars" provided a unique opportunity to connect law enforcement and community volunteer roll-models with youth. The practices and games were focused on "fun", character development, and fundamentals of the game. This concept of "hit them hard, and help them up" competitive developmental football was the vision of "Coach Jerry" Norton of Ponte Vedra; who partnered with the Sheriff's Office PAL to bring this program to the St. Augustine area youth. It has given us the opportunity to reach kids outside of traditional football/cheer programs.
PAL also works with our local schools to provide tutoring and mentoring for the at-risk youth in an after school setting. PAL is working to build future business leaders through our Youth Development Council. The vision of this program is to have different business partners come out each month and teach leadership and business skills to these youth from local middle and high schools.
PAL touches over 500 children in St. Johns County annually either directly or by sponsoring after school programs such as tutors and mentors. For more information about the St. Johns County Police Athletic League please visit the PAL website at www.stjohnspal.org, or contact Deputy Jason Shaw jshaw@sjso.org or SGT Robbie Gober rgober@sjso.org at (904) 829-9438.
Contact - Art May, Colonel
DO NOT REPORT CRIMES OR INCIDENTS OF ANY TYPE OVER THE INTERNET OR BY E-MAIL. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OR SERIOUSNESS OF THE INCIDENT, EITHER CALL 911 OR (904) 824-8304.
Colonel May contact information:
amay@sjso.org
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