After about five months of training with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office, Kyle Reedy can call himself a deputy sheriff.
Reedy stood with pride inside ASO headquarters as his mother, a Gainesville Police officer, pinned his deputy badge onto his uniform. They saluted each other while Reedy’s father snapped pictures from the back of the room.
Reedy was part of a group of 16 ASO officials honored during the ceremony Thursday afternoon.
Sheriff Sadie Darnell started by addressing the 12 ASO officials to be promoted in front of their families, friends and colleagues.
She gave them advice and focused on three points: to use their power judiciously, to ask for help and to always tell the truth.
“This is an important moment in history,” she said. “Take a snapshot in your mind of this day.”
After the group recited the code of ethics, ASO spokesman Art Forgey took the floor, reminding the audience that human resources processed more than 1,500 applications in the last year.
“This is truly the cream of the crop,” he said.
Brandi Mathis was the first to be recognized with her promotion to detention officer.
Darnell presented Mathis with a certificate and badge, which her mother pinned onto Mathis’ uniform with teary eyes.
Following Mathis’ promotion, the other 11 officials recited the deputy oath and also received a badge and certificate from Darnell.
Donald West Jr., Howard Adams, Timothy Herring, Michael McClenton and Shon McGuigan became detention deputies; James Abdale Jr. and James Roe were moved up to reserve deputies; and Lance Pallett, Michael Lynch, Victor Pino-Diaz and Reedy became deputy sheriffs.
The ceremony also honored Sgt. Donald VanWie, Lt. Michael S. Jones, Maj. Michael H. Fellows and Deputy Sheriff Jim C. Liddell for their 25 years of service.
Darnell said she looked forward to the new class’ work with the sheriff’s office.
“As they go forth in their careers,” she said, “it will become something of a wonderful memory.”
Contact Kathryn Varn at kvarn@alligator.org.
Detention Deputy Michael McClenton’s badge is pinned on his uniform during an oath of office ceremony held at the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday.
