With an interest in microbiology, and degree in hand, I was hired by one of DEP’s predecessor agencies, the Department of Environmental Regulation, in December 1986. I chose the agency because of the variety of opportunities, challenges and work environments it offered.

Variety it provides. My work day can go from writing reports, completing paperwork, reading technical documents and attending meetings to rushing out the door to respond to an emergency that may require me to dress in hooded chemical resistant clothing with supplied air for a major spill response.

As the only full-time Bureau of Emergency Response team member and supervisor of DEP’s on-call team in the Florida Keys, I’m involved in all levels of planning, spill prevention and environmental emergencies. Last year, nearly 150 incidents required immediate attention.

I constantly challenge myself to keep up with all aspects of my evolving duties and responsibilities--administrative proficiency, technical skills with monitoring equipment and forensic sampling, keeping informed about regulation changes that affect hazardous materials shipping, forensic sampling and cleanup procedures.

DEP empowers staff by providing training, equipment, and the authority to make on-the-spot decisions to best protect the people and the environment. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to work with colleagues who have been generous with their time, knowledge and experience. The reward for helping people, protecting one of Florida’s most ecologically sensitive areas and working with people who care about the environment have made DEP an ideal career choice for me.

I have always held the belief that since the average person works about 1,900 hours every year, it’s important to either enjoy what you do or find a new line of work. Enjoying what I do is a huge part of why what was supposed to be a temporary job with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Law Enforcement has lasted five years.

I was happily retired when I received a phone call asking me to fill in as Quartermaster for DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement. I agreed, but only on a temporary basis. Now, five years later, it has evolved into a very long, but very gratifying, temporary position.

As Quartermaster and Fleet Manager, I am in charge of the annual procurement of new vehicles for the law enforcement fleet, including emergency equipment. When appropriate, I make sure the vehicles are equipped with prisoner partitions, LED light bars, strobes, sirens and spot lights. I am also responsible for purchasing uniforms and duty gear such as pistol belts, holsters, ammunition cases, handcuffs and protective bullet proof vests for all officers. being a native Floridian, I take pride knowing that I am involved with protecting and conserving Florida’s rich and unique ecosystems.

They say you should take pride in your work product, because it’s a reflection on you. I agree with that wholeheartedly, and am eager to face the many opportunities, and sometimes challenges, that keep me busy each day. However, I don’t mind being busy because I am proud to work hard, and to be a part of and support the DEP team, which works diligently to maintain the many state parks, wetlands, greenways, coastal beaches and wildlife habitat each and everyday.

I have served with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) for four years. Having come to the state as a retired police lieutenant from a large county police department just outside of Washington D.C., with twenty-two years of experience and an educational background in Criminal Justice and Computer Science, my introduction to DEP came shortly after my arrival to Florida. The DEP/DLE’s reputation as a professional and progressive law enforcement agency and the allure of protecting Florida’s environment influenced my decision to join DEP.

Our squad consists of six employees and one lieutenant, within the Criminal Investigations Bureau. We cover nine counties in South Florida where investigators are challenged almost daily with new cases. Every investigation presents obstacles such as an uncooperative witness or a “who done it” with few leads. However, you achieve a sense of pride when the puzzle is solved.

In one memorable example, an extensive hazardous waste case brought together DEP’s entire Law Enforcement Division as one team. Cooperation among the Florida Park Police (DEP’s uniformed division), the Criminal Investigations Bureau and the Bureau of Emergency Response, resulted in the cleanup and restoration of contaminated state lands and a developer was charged and convicted. He faced a possible sentence of 10 years and $20,000 in fines.

DLE has a strong commitment to Florida’s environment, citizens and visitors, as well as a strong commitment to staff. The administration has created an open environment where employees can express their visions and concerns. If exploring a career in law enforcement with the added benefit of protecting our environment, you will not find a finer organization than DEP.

I began my career with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 2006. As a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves at Station Islamorada in the Florida Keys, I’ve worked with various law enforcement agencies in Monroe County.  I was most impressed with DEP and its officers. The diversity and extent of their job duties led me to a career with DEP.

I attended the Miami Dade Criminal Justice Academy. Other graduates in my class were starting careers with municipalities or county law enforcement agencies, while I was starting, basically, everywhere. As a Florida Park Police officer, my jurisdiction is statewide and includes Florida’s waters. I could go anywhere in Florida to serve as needed.  

As an officer with DEP’s Division of Law Enforcement, an average day could include investigating a call from a state park, assisting the Florida Highway Patrol on a traffic crash, or working with a federal agency to stop a suspected smuggling vessel. I might be on ATV patrol in the woods when dispatched to a refugee landing, requiring me to switch over to a patrol vessel.  We can go from investigating an illegal mangrove clearing call to a dive fatality. 

As liaison between our squad and federal agencies, I also work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the National Park Service.

A career protecting the people and resources of Florida is rewarding. My work days are never dull, and the people I work with, both DEP staff and those outside DEP, are dedicated professionals. We’re all proud of what we do.

 

As a lieutenant with the Division of Law Enforcement’s Office of Training and Professional Standards, my responsibilities include ensuring the division’s General Orders remain up-to-date and current with the ever-evolving technologies and changes in the law enforcement field.  In doing so, I routinely interact with members of various law enforcement agencies throughout the State of Florida.  I assist in the development of the division’s training curriculum, and am responsible for monitoring compliance with the division’s professional standards to include the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation, Inc. (CFA) and Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission (CJSTC) certifications.        

I had been working in law enforcement for approximately eight years when I decided I needed a change from the usual grind, but I knew I did not want to leave the law enforcement profession.  I began researching different agencies and their missions.  I came across the website for the DEP Division of Law Enforcement and was immediately intrigued by the job description.  I have always enjoyed the amenities that being outdoors in Florida offers and the possibility of combining my personal respect for the environment and my professional choice of working in law enforcement was something I found very appealing. 

My career at the DEP Division of Law Enforcement remains interesting due to the variety of duties and responsibilities I have.  I am one of the original members of the Environmental Response Team (ERT) which was formed in October 2001.  The knowledge, skills, and abilities I have gained from being a member of this team are extremely unique and I would not have received this type of training or opportunity anywhere but DEP. 

The most memorable work experience I have had while working for the DEP Division of Law Enforcement would be the times I was deployed, during hurricane disaster relief and for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  While on these deployments, I saw firsthand the devastation of Hurricane Katrina when it impacted the Gulf Coast in 2005, and witnessed the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill incident in 2010.  During these stressful times, I personally observed members of our division, as well as many members from other agencies, coming together to work for a common goal and that goal was to provide some type of relief to the citizens who had personally been affected by these disasters.  

The DEP Division of Law Enforcement is an exceptional agency with many great people.  Working for DEP has provided me with many opportunities I would never have had at a “traditional” law enforcement agency.