November 9, 2010: The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office was one of 12 companies recognized by the St. Lucie County Human Resource Association as one of the county's "Best Places to Work."

The Sheriff's Office also earned recognition in 2009 as one of the county's Best Places to Work.

The St. Lucie County Human Resource Association commissioned Fort Pierce-based Personnel dynamics Consulting to calculate 37 measurements on which to base the awards.

"We work hard at the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office to make our work environment a positive one because it helps ensure the highest quality service to the people of our county," Sheriff Mascara said. "This award shows that we are on the right track."

The 12-member Council advocates and promotes meaningful
participation in all aspects of life for Floridians with development
disabilities.

The Council’s purpose “is to engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that contribute to a coordinated, consumer and family centered, consumer and family directed, comprehensive system of community services and individualized supports that enable individuals with developmental disabilities to exercise self-determination,
be independent, be productive, and be integrated and included in all facets of community life,” according to the Council’s website www.fddc.org.

King, 53, has been a member of the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office since June 1995. King was nominated to the council by Deborah Linton, Executive Director of ARC Florida.

He started working with Special Olympics about 10 years ago. He has been honored twice as volunteer of the year for Special Olympics, St. Lucie County. He ran a golf tournament for Special Olympics for 6 years that raised over $125,000.

King started the only aftercare and summer program through ARC of St. Lucie for people with developmental disabilities that is still running today. He is a member of the Board of Directors for ARC of St. Lucie.

This past budget process he was instrumental in saving the Special Olympics, St. Lucie County program when the county wanted to stop funding it.

He has served as the agency Director for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.

Deputy Keith Pearson, a six-year veteran of the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office has been named Deputy of 2010 by the Steven N. Gladwin Post 40, American Legion.

In September 2009, members of another law enforcement agency were sent to Riverside National Bank for an armed robbery in progress. Deputy Pearson monitored radio dispatch calls to gain information about the robbery's vehicle and direction of travel and located the vehicle. He followed the driver until the car was abandoned in a wooded area where the armed suspect jumped out of the car.

Deputy Pearson chased him down and disarmed him. He also recovered the stolen cash.

Deputy Pearson also was responsible for a number of arrests in a wide variety of cases due to his persistence and attention to detail.

Sheriff’s Office members graduate from the National Jail Leadership Command Academy

Several Sheriff's Office members are recent graduates of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy.

The Academy is a week-long program of the American Jail Association. The Academy is housed at the Sam Houston State University Criminal Justice Center at Huntsville, Texas, north of
Houston.

2009 graduates of the Academy from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office are Sgt. Brian Buchko and Sgt. Dan Burkhardt.

2010 graduates from the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office are Sgt. Edward J. Johnson, Classification Manager Trevor J. Morganti, Lt. Stephanie Lyons, Lt. Sidney Long, Lt. Ronald
Pallack and Lt. Willie Perry.

The mission of the Academy is to provide training for succession preparation and the development of leadership skills for successful transitioning into senior leadership
positions within jails.