Rising in rank: Ormond Beach Police officers promoted

Law enforcement needs strong leaders, Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said.

  • Ormond Beach Observer
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Two Ormond Beach Police officers were recognized on Tuesday, July 27, for promotions in leadership, something Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said his department never takes lightly. 

“Being promoted is a huge deal because you’re given much more responsibility than just that of a normal police officer, and as you know, police officers have huge amounts of responsibility and authority," Godfrey said. "To be in charge of those people is even a greater accomplishment, and greater deal.”

Now more than ever, the police chief said, does law enforcement need strong leaders.

The first officer to be promoted in the ceremony was Lt. Michelle Willis, formerly a sergeant. Willis, who served four years in the U.S. Army, has been with the Police Department since 2002.

She thanked her family for their support, saying she would not be standing there today in her current rank without them. Willis also expressed gratitude for her fellow officers. 

“You cannot do good things without good people behind you and be willing to work with them to accomplish the same goals," Willis. 

The second officer to be promoted was Cpl. Ryan Mihalko, formerly a detective. He began his career with the Police Department in 2008, and was the Crime Stoppers Detective of the Year in 2020. 

He said that since he began his law enforcement career, he was exposed to different kinds of supervisors, making him think about the kind of leader he would be in their shoes.

“Hopefully with what I’ve learned, who I’ve spoken with and the supervisors who I’ve been through, I’m come to see who I want to be, as far as a leader, a supervisor and somebody that my family, my coworkers, are proud of," he said.

 

 

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