From Civilian to Deputy
by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist
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Would that be Doctor Deputy Anika Moody, or Deputy Anika Moody, PhD? The most recent class of academy graduates currently going through in-house training at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) includes a highly educated former civilian employee who decided to make the switch to being a certified law enforcement officer. Moody has passed the State Officer Certification Examination and is now a deputy recruit getting the final training she needs before earning full-fledged deputy status.
“Becoming a deputy is something I wanted to do since I was a kid. However, I decided to follow my passion for education and research. This past year I finally decided I was ready to make the change and follow the passion I’d long ignored.”
Deputy Recruit Moody got her bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Sociology from Florida State. While working on her master’s degree in Criminal Justice with a specialty in Behavioral Science she worked in the mental health field answering calls at the National Suicide Hotline and as a case manager helping young people with mental health and substance abuse issues. She decided to pursue her doctorate in Criminal Justice, specializing in Juvenile Justice. “At this time, I started working for the PCSO as a Juvenile Electronic Monitoring Specialist in the Habitual Offender Monitoring Enforcement (HOME) Task Force.” She even wrote her doctoral dissertation on the HOME Unit. Later, she took a position as a Research Specialist in the Strategic Planning Division. “In this position I was able to learn about all aspects of the agency by conducting research and creating reports.”
As you might expect from someone with such an academic background, Moody did her research before taking the leap. “For any civilian employee considering switching to sworn, talk to your sworn coworkers and learn more about the job and what it takes. Before I officially made my decision, I talked to a couple of close sworn friends. Each of them explained to me the reality of what being a deputy means, including the highs and lows of the job. They gave me great advice which helped my decision and prepared me for this new career. They have also been a great support system by consistently checking in on my progress, which has meant a lot to me.”
Making the switch from working in an office to patrolling the streets is a huge step, but Moody prepared herself for the challenge. First came the 790-hour Law Enforcement Academy at the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center. “The hardest part of the academy was the lifestyle adjustment. No matter your strengths, the academy will challenge you to grow. As tough as it has been at times, I’ve never been happier with a career choice.” Now, she is doing the same in-house training you’ve read about in Inside the Star, learning everything from defensive tactics to driving, decision-making skills, and even compassion. In a few more weeks she’ll be out on the road with a Field Training Officer, fine-tuning her skills. Nothing can prepare a deputy for every situation, but with her passion for learning, Deputy Recruit Moody will be as ready as they come.
Her friends and family have encouraged her through this big career change. “My husband has always been extremely supportive of my ambitions, and this decision was no different.” Learning to be the best possible deputy will take up a lot of her free time right now, but when she gets a break, she plans to do more traveling and hiking with their dog Sailor. “She’s been to 17 states and has hiked the Rocky Mountains and the Great Smoky Mountains.” Good luck to Deputy Recruit Moody on her new adventure!
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Chain of Command: Captain
by Laura L. Sullivan, Public Relations Specialist
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“A chain of command is mostly about communication and accountability,” says North District Patrol Captain Melvin Jackson. “Effective communication in any organization is important; however, the importance is magnified within law enforcement organizations. Effective communication leads to effective decision making. Ineffective communication can cause ineffective decisions to be made. These can potentially be life-threatening depending on the situation.”
What might be important in a corporation is even more vital in a law enforcement agency where the stakes can be literally a matter of life and death. “We are not just dealing with a business product,” says Support Services Captain Adam Kinzel. “We are dealing with the lives of our staff and those we’ve sworn an oath to protect.” Certified members in patrol or in the jail are charged with protecting not just their own lives and those of their co-workers, but the lives of citizens, inmates in the jail, and suspects too. Having a command structure that assigns broader levels of responsibility and oversight through the organization helps make sure the right policies and practices are always in place. “Our tiered chain of command is there in order for our members to be able to handle the situation at hand and provide the best and safest outcome,” says Captain Kinzel.
As the rank increases, so does the span of control – the number of people or resources they manage. Captain Kinzel has many responsibilities in Support Services within the Department of Detention and Corrections, from budget and spending to the Transportation Section, Inmate Visitation, Program Services, Pinellas Safe Harbor, Inmate Property, the Chaplain’s Office, Field Training for new hires, the Corrections Response Team, and the Specialists Unit.
There’s no such thing as a typical day in Captain Kinzel’s job. “Every day is a new adventure with a different set of events and tasks that arise as quickly as the wind blows.” One priority heard repeatedly from the PCSO’s most respected leaders is making sure to constantly reach out to everyone who reports to them. “The one routine I try my hardest to complete every morning – after I get a cup of coffee of course – is to venture out and see our team members. It is important for me to know my members, what they do, and for them to know I’m around to support them.”
“As a patrol captain I’m constantly assessing criminal activity and crime trends within my district and directing initiatives to combat criminal activity,” Captain Jackson says. “This may include purchasing new equipment, directing operational activities to target specific areas, or identifying new training opportunities for personnel.” In short, he’s responsible for the safety of both agency members and the public north of Gulf to Bay Boulevard. “It’s a lot of responsibility and something I take very seriously.” No one in the PCSO is a one-man show – the chain of command creates a network of people that a leader can rely on. “It’s a team effort and I could not do it without the strong team of lieutenants, sergeants, and deputies who are assigned to the North District Station.” Though the majority of a captain’s day may be taken up with administrative tasks, meetings, and memos, Captain Jackson makes sure that when he’s not in his office he’s in his cruiser patrolling.
Kinzel’s rise to the rank of captain began in 2003. Before taking a job at the jail he had never really thought about working in corrections. “I love people and watching them succeed in life, and always knew I wanted a career helping others.” His decision to become first a Criminal Justice Specialist and then a Corrections Deputy came after he found out that his father (who was also his best friend) had terminal cancer. “I told myself I would find a career that would show him I would be okay financially and would have a retirement, an honorable career in which I could help people, plus one that would give him a sense of peace and pride in me.” Captain Kinzel comes from a long line of family who served the public. His father was president of the Ronald McDonald house, and both his great grandfather and great-great-grandfather were mayors of St. Petersburg. “Seeing good things happen to good people and being in a position to see things get accomplished for the betterment of ourselves and our community are what I truly appreciate about this position.”
By the time they reach the rank of captain, members have experienced many different areas of the agency. After having been with PCSO a little over a year, Captain Jackson made the SWAT team. “I learned so much about how to be an effective leader from my time on the team,” he said. SWAT is an ancillary duty, and for his primary job he was a Community Policing Deputy, a Violent Offender Warrants Unit detective, and served as a corporal and later a sergeant in patrol. Later, as Special Operations sergeant he gained the administrative skills he’d need as he rose through the ranks. A stint in the Administrative Investigation Division not only taught him about parts of the agency he’d never encountered before, but he “learned about the discipline process and how fairness, equitability, and professionalism all play major roles in the process.”
Just before he became captain, Jackson was the Support Section lieutenant, overseeing some of the most charismatic units in the agency: Flight, K-9, the Marine and Environmental Lands Unit, the Mental Health Unit, and the Dive Team. “Situations would arise daily that tested my decision-making abilities as well as my administrative skills. The vast span of responsibilities prepared me for the next step in my career progression.”
“My advice to anyone aspiring to advance in rank is to get as much experience and exposure as possible, work as hard as possible, and be patient,” Captain Jackson says. “Being well-rounded and having a work product that is well known is the key to opening opportunities. Hard workers always shine brighter. Timing is everything. Be in the best position to seize opportunities as they become available.”
Captain Kinzel echoes this advice and adds, “Take ownership of your role. Do something to get your name known – in a good way of course.” He says it’s also important for members to share their thoughts on how to make the agency better and the county safer. “We all have ideas for improvement, but most choose not to say anything. My advice would be to come forward, not just with your suggestion, but with a solution or resolution to your suggestion.”
“The role of a captain is not about me,” Captain Kinzel says. “It is to support and grow those who run the functions within our agency and allow them to be part of our agency’s succession plan. None of us are irreplaceable, so growing our members to be ready for their next step and being honest with them about their growth, strengths, and areas they could improve in is paramount. My goal is to provide my team an opportunity to shine. I grade myself on their successes and I’m proud of how many of my staff get promoted, while seeing them thrive in their careers.”
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Community Grant Applications Are Open |
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Every year the Sheriff’s Citizens Association funds local initiatives through its Community Grant Program. Awards of up to $1,000 will be given to programs that empower youth, support children and families, or to programs founded by young people. Funds for the award come from Citizens Association members’ annual dues and donations throughout the year. Last year the Citizens Association gave a total of $15,000 to worthy initiatives.
The Sheriff’s Citizens Association is a networking group of people who are dedicated to supporting and learning more about the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO). A committee votes on the winners. If your organization could use a little help in helping the community, please apply here. The application deadline is March 31, 2023.
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