Sheriff Chitwood Announces First Group Of Promotions

Date Added: April 05, 2017 1:30 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

SHERIFF CHITWOOD ANNOUNCES FIRST GROUP OF PROMOTIONS

With change comes opportunity. And for seven veteran Volusia County Sheriff’s Office employees, their opportunity to move up the ranks came Wednesday during Sheriff Mike Chitwood’s first group of promotions since taking office on Jan. 1.

It was a festive affair at the Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach, with friends, family and co-workers among the crowd of approximately 150 who were in attendance to witness the ceremony. Sheriff Chitwood remarked that the Sheriff’s Office is full of talented, hard-working employees ready to step up, fill the need created by recent retirements and take on more supervisory responsibility. “We’re promoting some great people to take their place as leaders,” Sheriff Chitwood told the audience. “I expect big things from this class that we’re promoting today.”

Sheriff Chitwood had some special words for three deputies who were promoted to the first-line supervisory rank of sergeant, which the Sheriff referred to as the most important rank in the organization and one that has a great deal of influence over the agency’s success or failure. “The organization goes as the sergeants go,” the Sheriff said. “You’re the leaders. You’re the boots on the ground.”

In the sworn ranks, the following deputies were promoted on Wednesday:

Newly-promoted Lieutenants

• Garey MacDowell
• Justin Sawicki
• Benyamin Yisrael

Newly-promoted Sergeants

• Steven Bryan
• Steven Edgecomb
• Ryan Mills

Also announced Wednesday was a civilian promotion, Claudine Boring, to assistant director of communications. Between the seven, they represent more than 85 years of service to the Sheriff’s Office. All seven were given an opportunity to say a few words at Wednesday’s awards ceremony. “It’s a great honor to be one of the first ones to be promoted by the new administration,” said Sergeant Bryan. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Yisrael noted that he’s aware that much is expected of him in his new role, new rank and new assignment. And he thanked all those who’ve helped, supported, encouraged and mentored him throughout his career. “These shoes to fill -- I’m hoping I fill them well.”