Sheriff Johnson Promotes Two Deputies

Date Added: August 04, 2005 1:34 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

Three years ago, a report of a road rage incident that erupted into gunfire came across Bruce Fleischmann’s desk. Armed with a partial tag number and vehicle description, Fleischmann set out to work. Spending hours meticulously sorting through computer databases, Fleischmann punched in every conceivable combination until he came up with a list of possible suspect vehicles. Further narrowing the field by sorting through hits matching the vehicle color and driver description, Fleischmann got his man and solved the case. 

It was that professional drive, dedication and dogged determination that helped earn Fleischmann promotion Thursday as the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s newest lieutenant. “It’s with great honor that I present this to you,” Sheriff Ben Johnson said as he handed Fleischmann his lieutenant’s bar. “You’ve earned it.” 

A U.S. Navy and Vietnam veteran, the 54-year-old Fleischmann has been with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly 16 years. Fleischmann spent time as a road deputy. But he has been most at home in investigations, where he has spent most of his tenure since starting with the agency in 1989. Fleischmann was promoted to sergeant in 1993 and has supervised the investigative unit at the Sheriff’s Office’s District 5 headquarters in New Smyrna Beach since 1994, except for a one-year stint he spent overseeing a street-level narcotics task force. He also helped organize a countywide task force that works to prevent motorcycle thefts during the area’s special events. Fleischmann also is active in charitable ventures, helping to raise funds for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches and working with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s 100 Deputies/100 Kids program. A police officer in Edgewater, Daytona Beach Shores and Beaumont, Texas before coming to the Sheriff’s Office, Fleischmann is married and has four children. 

Also promoted Thursday to the rank of sergeant was Tara Lynn Savercool. Sergeant Savercool, 33, started as a reserve deputy with the Sheriff’s Office in February 1994. She was promoted to a full-fledged deputy in August 1995 and has spent most of her time in road patrol.