Kristi Gordon (February 2012 - Present)
Kristi Gordon was named by FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey to the position of Chief of Professional Development in February 2012. Chief Gordon has more than 14 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Florida and FDLE. During that time, she has served as the supervisor over the Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center and the Florida Investigative Support Center. In addition, she has served in a variety of analytical positions with the Office of Statewide Intelligence and the Office of Executive Investigations. As the leader of the Bureau of Professional Development (BPD), Chief Gordon will oversee the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, the Alcohol Breath Test Program, the Law Enforcement Analyst Academy and the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
Chief Gordon earned her bachelor’s degree from The Florida State University. She is a graduate of the Florida Law Enforcement Analyst Academy.
Lori Mizell (Interim Director, December 2011 - February 2012)
Lori Mizell was appointed in December, 2011, to act as Interim Bureau Chief of the Bureau of Professional Development (BPD). Ms. Mizell was appointed in July 2011 to serve as the Executive Director of the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). She has been a member of FDLE for almost 12 years and most recently served as the statewide coordinator of FDLE’s Analyst Training Program. She first joined FDLE in 1999 as a Research and Training Specialist with the Professionalism Program’s Leadership Center. In 2002, she was promoted to a Senior Management Analyst Supervisor and named to head up the newly established Counter Terrorism Intelligence Center. She served in this capacity for four years before transitioning to a Government Analyst II position to handle domestic security initiatives and projects. Prior to joining FDLE, Director Mizell was an Education and Training Specialist with the Auditor General's Office.
Director Mizell earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. She is a graduate of FDLE’s Law Enforcement Analyst Academy and is instructor certified through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.
TW Smart (July 2010 - December 1, 2011)
T.W. Smart, a 22-year veteran with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, was named by FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey to the position of Chief of Professional Development in July. In this capacity, Chief Smart will head the FDLE Leadership Center and FDLE’s certified law enforcement training school. As the leader of the Bureau of Professional Development (BPD), Chief Smart will also direct the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute and the Alcohol Breath Test Program, and will oversee the Law Enforcement Analyst Academy and the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation. Chief Smart served as Chief of Law Enforcement for the Florida Capitol Police prior to his appointment to the BPD.
David Brand ( July 2009 - July 2010)
David Brand served 28 years with the Tallahassee Police Department, retiring as the Internal Affairs Commander. His background includes extensive experience in homicide and sex crimes investigations including managing multi-jurisdictional cases. He has a Bachelor in Criminology and Master of Public Administration degrees from Florida State University and has published numerous articles in professional journals involving law enforcement practices and procedures. While at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement he has managed the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Field Services, Trust Fund, and Professional Compliance Sections. He is currently assigned as the Interim Director of the Bureau of Professional Development and Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute.
Charles "Steven" Casey ( March 2007 - June 2009)
Steven Casey was appointed director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute in March 2007. Director Casey has nearly three decades of public service experience. He has served as the Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (the largest juvenile justice agency in the nation); Chief Deputy of the Monroe County, FL, Sheriff’s Office; Director of Security of the Florida Lottery (a billion dollar enterprise); and as a Special Agent and Special Agent Supervisor with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco. In the past, he served as a member of the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council; the Florida Supreme Court Taskforce on Treatment Based Drug Courts; the Florida Criminal Justice and Juvenile Justice Information Council and the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission Regional Council. Steve received a master’s degree in management from Troy University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Harvard University Senior Executive Program for State and Local Government and class 41 of the Chief Executive Seminar.
Susan Kyzer (October 2005 - March 2007)
Susan Kyzer is currently the Chief Performance Officer at the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles.
Susan was appointed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s first Executive Director for the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA) in March 1997. Since that appointment, she has established the Florida Accreditation Program as the leading state accreditation program in the nation. Susan hails from Texas originally, but has spent the last twenty five years in Florida and the Bahamas where she has earned a Master’s of Science degree from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree from Barry University . She’s also a graduate of the Chief Executive Seminar Class #20 from the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute.
Susan was recently elected President for the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, (NAWLEE) for her second term of office, serving on the Executive Board since 1999. While serving on the board, she developed NAWLEE’s “Glass Ceiling Award” pin that recognizes women police executives’ promotions and accomplishments. President Kyzer instituted a new scholarship program at the 2005 NAWLEE conference that provides funding for career advancement training and conference attendance for police women that may not otherwise be able to attend.
Susan’s law enforcement career includes serving as the Planning and Research Director of the Port St. Lucie (FL) Police Department for eight years. Her many responsibilities included developing and overseeing the budget, policy development, pursuing and maintaining state and federal grants; managing the accreditation program, and strategic planning for a dynamic and constantly growing organization.
Susan has delivered training, both nationally and statewide, in the law enforcement administrative areas of policy development, accreditation, career enhancement, and budgeting. She has served as an assessment Team Leader for both national and state accrediting bodies where she was rated as one of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ (CALEA) Top Assessors.
Susan has served on many task forces and committees through out her career helping to foster professionalism in the criminal justice community, demonstrating her commitment to excellence, forging new ground for women law enforcement executives, and promoting cooperation among all the stakeholders concerned with public safety.
Susan served as the Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute from October 2005 through March 2007.
Terry Lewis (June 2004 - October 2005)
Terry Lewis is currently the Chief of Police for Northport Police Department. Chief Lewis served 27 years with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, retiring at the rank of Colonel, before joining FDLE in June 2004. During his tenure with Sarasota County he worked in every area of the agency including Patrol, Special Operations, SWAT, and Training. In addition to being a CJSTC Certified Instructor, he was a member of the local criminal justice academy advisory board and served as its chairman. Prior to joining Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, Chief Lewis was employed with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington DC as a patrol officer.
Chief Lewis holds a Bachelors degree in public administration. He has been married for 23 years to his wife Lisa, and they have one son, a student at the University of Florida
Michael D. Crews (February 2004 - June 2004)
Michael Crews began his career with FDLE in 1987 as a Standards and Training Specialist in the Professionalism Program. Over the next several years he held the positions of Research and Training Specialist; Field Services Specialist and Training and Research Manager. Director Crews then assumed the position of Manager over the Criminal Justice Information Program’s Help Desk and Sexual Predator Program. Director Crews was then assigned to the position of Training Manager in FDLE’s newly created Leadership Center. During that time he oversaw the development, delivery and maintenance of the Foundational Leadership Program and worked closely with the training delivered through the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. Director Crews most recently served as Bureau Chief of Standards in the Professionalism Program overseeing Florida’s Officer Discipline and Alcohol Testing Programs as well as, the Officer Records; Training Trust Fund and Field Services Sections.
Prior to joining FDLE, Director Crews was employed as a certified correctional officer at Apalachee Correctional Institute and a correctional probation officer in Tallahassee. He has also worked with the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission as a part-time officer.
Crews is a graduate from Florida State University and is a certified instructor through the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. He is also a graduate of the Chief’s Executive Seminar-Class 22. He has been married for 17 years to his wife Teri and they have two children, Jennie and Kelly.
M. Michael McHargue (December 2000 - January 2004)
Director Mike McHargue began his law enforcement career with FDLE in 1973 as a Special Agent in criminal investigations. Prior to his appointment as Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute in December, 2000, he was assigned as Special Agent Supervisor, Director of the FDLE Academy, Director of Executive Investigations and Director of Criminal Investigations and FDLE Inspector General. Mike is a graduate of Florida State University, the FBI National Academy and the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute's Chief Executive Seminar.
He is married to his wife, Ruth, with two children, Michael and Melissa. He enjoys sports, music and woodworking.
Arthur Lee McGehee (March, 1995 - September 2000)
Serving on the original advisory committee, and later as the Chairman of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute Policy Board, Chief Lee McGehee retired after 21 years as the Chief of Police for the City of Ocala to accept an appointment as the Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. Lee served as the FCJEI Director from March 1995 until his untimely death in September, 2000.
Lee McGehee was the Chief of Police in the city of Ocala from 1974 to 1995. Prior to that he served as Deputy Chief in the St. Petersburg Police Department, and Director of Planning for the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. His law enforcement career also included service as an Ocala police officer (1965-67).
Director McGehee received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology from The Florida State University and a Masters of Public Administration degree from the University of Georgia. He also completed portions of a Doctoral program in Public Administration, and attended the University of Florida College of Law. He served on the faculty of The University of Georgia's Institute of Government, and as an instructor in Police Administration for St. Petersburg Junior College.
He was awarded the "Public Safety Management Award" by the City of St. Petersburg in 1972, the Ocala Jaycees "Good Government Award" in 1976, the state "Distinguished Service Award" by the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency in 1980, and the "Award of Distinction" in 1983 by the West Central Florida Police Chiefs Association.
Director McGehee served on the Education and Training Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and was a past President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association. He was a member of the Thomasville Road Baptist Church in Tallahassee, and a trustee of the Christian Life Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Connie Smith-Patrick (June, 1994 - March, 1995)
Connie Patrick served as the Director of the Executive Institute from June 1994 to March 1995, when she left FDLE to serve as the Director, Office of General Training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. Ms. Patrick was appointed Associate Director for Planning and Resources in June, 1998 at FLETC.
Director Patrick began her law enforcement career in 1976 as a deputy sheriff with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. In 1981, she became a Special Agent with FDLE. She was promoted to Special Agent Supervisor and worked in both the Orlando and Tampa offices. While assigned to the Tampa office, Ms. Patrick became the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Regional Operations Center. She then moved to Tallahassee where she was the Special Agent in Charge of the FDLE Investigative Support Bureau until her appointment as Director of the FCJEI.
Director Patrick has a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, the Chief Executive Seminar and Federal Executive Institute.
She is married to John Patrick, Jr. They have four children, Jenny, Elizabeth, Shannon, and John.
James D. Sewell, Ph.D. (September, 1990 - June, 1994)
Dr. James D. Sewell served as the first director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute. Jim started his law enforcement career with the Florida State University Department of Public Safety, leaving at the rank of Lieutenant, and supervisor of the Support Services Section, which included the Crime Prevention Unit. He joined FDLE in 1980, leaving in December 1982 to go to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles where he served as the Director of the Office of Management and Planning Services until March, 1986 when he was appointed Chief of Police in the City of Gulfport, Florida until August, 1990, serving his last nine months in Gulfport as Acting City Manager for this City of 12,000 residents. Dr. Sewell returned to FDLE as the Director of the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute on September 1, 1990. Dr. Sewell retired as the Asssistant Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Support Services division in 2005.
Director Sewell holds a BS, MS, and Ph.D., all in Criminology from The Florida State University. His dissertation research was in the area of law enforcement stress. He has published numerous articles in professional journals and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the FCJEI Chief Executive Seminar.