For Immediate Release
August 8, 2025
 
CLERMONT, Fla. – Today, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute (FCJEI) announces the graduation of 44 first-line supervisors from the Florida Leadership Academy, Class 60. These graduates serve in leadership roles representing 42 criminal justice agencies throughout the state.
 
The graduates participated in four week-long training sessions at the Clermont Arts and Recreation Center. They learned skills necessary to support the needs of their agencies and their communities as they prepare for future challenges.
 
The goal of the Florida Leadership Academy is to prepare first-line supervisors in criminal justice organizations to exemplify the character and integrity expected of criminal justice professionals and to examine the various components necessary to being an efficient leader.
 
The FCJEI, which is housed within the FDLE and affiliated with the State University System, was established in 1990 by the Florida Legislature to address the need for an innovative and multi-faceted approach to the education and training of criminal justice professionals.
 
Florida Leadership Academy Class 60 Graduates:
 
Russel Ackerman
Bradenton Police Department
 
Leonard Arnold
Eustis Police Department
 
Pierre Batiste
Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
 
Ethan Bell
Clermont Police Department
 
Richard Blanchard
Lake County Sheriff’s Office
 
Tara Brubaker
Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
 
Tommy Capobianco
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
 
Jeffrey Chandler
Pasco Sheriff’s Office
 
Christopher Cline
Florida Department of Corrections
 
Jorge Coello
Winter Garden Police Department
 
Kimberly E. Cone
Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office
 
Anthony M. Cooper
Jacksonville Beach Police Department
 
Fred Currid
Walton County Sheriff’s Office
 
Andrew Cusick
Casselberry Police Department
 
Kasie Daugherty
Polk County Sheriff’s Office
 
Anthony Dobosiewicz
Florida Highway Patrol
 
Richard Felton
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
 
Joshua Fried
Ocala Police Department
 
Sanjeev Gopaul
Clermont Police Department
 
Jason Haines
Neptune Beach Police Department
 
Jason D. Hicks
Indian Shores Police Department
 
Jacob Higginbotham
Putnam County Sheriff’s Office
 
Justin Johnson
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
 
Melissa Kurtz
Highlands County Sheriff’s Office
 
Tristen Lahr
Auburndale Police Department
 
Grant McMullen
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
 
Christopher Mobley
St. John’s County Sheriff’s Office
 
Caleb Odom
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
 
Russel S. Peña
Groveland Police Department
 
Michael Rice
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
 
Jason Sadler
Melbourne Beach Police Department
 
Abisai Sanchez
Mount Dora Police Department
 
Tara Shea
Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office
 
Ally Shepherd
Consolidated Dispatch Agency
 
Kenneth Stinson
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
 
Mikaela Strickland-Shirah
Bonifay Police Department
 
Tamika Tinsley
Orange County Corrections Department
 
Don Triebell
Satellite Beach Police Department
 
Jason Turner
Volusia Sheriff’s Office
 
Windy Vater
Pinellas Park Police Department
 
William “Drew” Vickers
St. Petersburg Police Department
 
Christopher Whelan
Escambia County Corrections
 
Jesse E. Williams
Bay County Sheriff’s Office
 
Travis Williams
Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
 
For Further Information Contact:
FDLE Office of Public Information
Info@fdle.state.fl.us