Behind and Beyond the Badge: Stories from the Village of First Responders with Cops, Firefighters, Dispatchers, Forensics, and Victim Advocates

by Donna Brown

Overview

There is so much more to a police officer’s badge, to any badge that all first responders wear. But that’s what the world sees—a badge. What’s behind and beyond that badge is what people need to know—the person.

In BEHIND AND BEYOND THE BADGE, Donna Brown takes you to those places that few see. She shows you that those behind the badge may wear a different uniform than other occupations, but they too have families. They too pay bills, and they love the communities where they live and serve. Each one faces all that life has to offer, good and bad. They have dreams just like you, and they continue to give even after their law enforcement careers ends. The difference between their jobs and most other professions is that a first responder might not come home from work at the end of the day. Each has lost a coworker who died in the line of duty, someone who may have also been a friend, a family member, or even a spouse, because while others run from danger, they run to it. They do this for you.

So now, open the cover, and meet some of these amazing people!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781943106141
Publisher:	Donna Brown
Publication date:	06/01/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	275
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Donna Brown began her twenty- six-year career in law enforcement when women were still relatively new to the profession. Like most new police officers, Donna began her career working the streets answering calls for service. She then started training new recruits and turned that passion into teaching department wide, at the academy, and to community groups. When she was promoted to sergeant, she remained on the streets and continued training new recruits. Career progression moved Donna to the Criminal Investigation Division where she spent fifteen years, ten years supervising the Homicide Unit. Donna received the Tallahassee Police Department'saward for bravery and the inaugural Commander and Chief's Award for Excellence, which at that time was the department's award for Officer of the Year. She was also recognized for her part with the Tallahassee Police Department's team that responded to South Florida days after Hurricane Andrew devastated that area. Donna knows that there is so much more behind the badge that people don't realize or understand. She had spent much of her career speaking to citizen groups in hope of educating and broadening minds about law enforcement. She grew up in Titusville, Florida, when the space industry was flourishing. Return trips are not as frequent as she'd like, but it's a place that she will always consider home. After graduating from Astronaut High School, she moved to Tallahassee, Florida, obtaining her bachelor of science degree from Florida State University in 1979. She's a proud Seminole! Donna is married, and together, they enjoy spending time with their four-legged fur babies, friends, and family, as well as playing golf.

Table of Contents

Contents
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ....................................... ..1
1. Sergeant Donna Brown ................................................... ..3
2. Captain Kelly Burke ......................................................... 12
3. Lieutenant Dewey Riou .................................................... 22
4. Special Agent Floy Turner ............................................... 29
5. Captain Charles Newlin ................................................... 37
6. Lieutenant Dorita Gavin ................................................... 45
7. Officer Hoyt Schmidt ........................................................ 51
8. Deputy Brettina Adams .................................................... 59
9. Officer Mike Strickland ..................................................... 66
10. Officer Kathy McDaris ...................................................... 72
11. Sergeant Stephen Vaughn .............................................. 78
12. Officer Lisa Pontoriero .................................................... 85
13. Officer Tyler Hall ............................................................. 93
THE VILLAGE OF FIRST RESPONDERS ........................... 101
14. Line-of-Duty Death Surviving Spouse
Nicole Romans Hall ....................................................... 103
15. Forensic Supervisor Roger Hawkes ................................ 120
16. Victim Advocate Leslie Norcross Miller ........................... 127
17. Firefighter Lieutenant Frank Mohr ................................... 133
18. Public Safety Dispatch Communications Supervisor
Natalia Duran................................................................. 140
19. Dr. David Bellamy, Reserve Police Officer ...................... 145
20. Fire Battalion Chief Sharon Lippman .............................. 152
21. Dr. Patrick Smith ............................................................ 158
Bibliography ....................................................................... 166
About the Author: DONNA BROWN .................................. 170

Editorial Reviews

“In BEHIND AND BEYOND THE BADGE, Brown offers a

riveting probe into the inner trials and tribulations that

many members of the law enforcement community

endure during the course of their public service

careers. The author applies her honed investigative skills

to put the human dimension on full display. She artfully

draws back the curtains that shroud the inner sanctuary

of the police world and then escorts the reader into that

inner circle. In one sense, this book is the law

enforcement version of Dante’s Inferno. Some travelers

emerge relatively unscathed; others grapple mightily with

their inner turmoil. Eventually, they forge ahead and gain

passage to an entirely new path in their journey through

life.”

DR. BILL DOERNER

Professor (Retired)

College of Criminology & Criminal Justice

Florida State University

Author of Victimology and Introduction to Law

Enforcement: An Insider’s View

“As a retired law enforcement officer, BEHIND AND

BEYOND THE BADGE made me proud as I read it. I

know how special the folks were that I worked with for so

many years, but to read about the people contained

within these pages was just inspirational. This book is for

everyone, first responder or not. It’s a fast read with a

huge ‘wow factor’ at the end of each story.”

Trish England

Sergeant (Retired)

Florida Highway Patrol

“BEHIND AND BEYOND THE BADGE is a marvelous

collection of stories coming straight from the law

enforcement and first-responder communities. The

stories provide details and highlights of hard-earned

careers to include tragic officer deaths, violent crimes,

and the bitter worst of humanity. But through it all, the

duty of service persevered, and they survived to make it

to the next stage in life, what new author Donna Brown

calls ‘Phase 2.’ Brown, a retired police officer with an

incredible resume in her own right, believes that making

it to retirement to enjoy life in the next phase is what

each and every law enforcement officer should strive

for. She sums it up with a great quote, ‘You spent many

years giving OF yourself; it's time to give TO yourself.’

For the past, present, and future law enforcement

officers and first responders, this is a must read.

WILLIAM MARK

Award-winning author of Crossing the Blue Line and

From Behind the Blue Line

“Donna thank you! Thank you for sharing your story and

the stories of many others who risked their lives in the

service of saving lives and ensuring a community of

safety and well-being. Your book is heartfelt; it’s filled

with interesting and uplifting stories of real people who

made a significant difference and continue to do so in

their ‘PHASE 2’ life.”

DR. CHERYL A. RAINEY

Psychotherapist and Leadership Management Consultant

Former First Responder, State of Florida

Author of How to Hire and Keep a Winning Team, To the

Top: How Extraordinary Leaders Lead in the Zone, and A

Recipe for Silicon Valley Success?

From the Publisher