After graduation I went to work for Florida Power and Light. I married shortly there after. As soon as I turned 21, I got into law enforcement. I felt like helping in trying to better the community. I attended Metro-Dade Police Academy in 1961. Not only did I give up a good salary but I had to give up playing on a semi-pro football team called the Miami Barracudas. I played for them from 1959 till joining the police department. The injury risk forced me to stop playing. The Barracudas fell by the wayside in the latter part of the 1960’s anyway when the Miami Dolphins began the new NFL football franchise.

Part of the police training required recruits to attend an autopsy from start to finish to harden us up for what we would come in contact with out on the streets. On a wall of the Medical Examiner’s Office were photos dedicated to a “violent death gallery”, a collage of gruesome death photos that Dr. Joe Davis posted almost like a trophy case. On the wall hung a picture of high school buddy of mine who was partially eaten by a shark off Crandon Park while spear fishing. I also divorced around this time frame.

A series of interesting events started that I didn’t realize were happening until later in my career. The current Sheriff of Dade County, Tal Buchanan, was run over and killed crossing Biscayne Boulevard. The accident was ruled accidental. Later in my career, two more sheriffs’ I worked for died at the hands of actual murderers. I get to those later. It was just weird to have worked for 3 Sheriff’s who did not die from natural causes or old age.

After regular patrol in a squad car for 4 years, I rode motorcycles for 5 years and then transferred into the Organized Crime Bureau as an undercover gambling operations detective. When I look back, motorcycle patrol was probably the most exciting part of the Florida career.

I had the honor of being appointed to Richard Nixon’s motorcade as escort in ’68. I was to lead his motorcade from his hotel to the Miami Beach Convention Hall. He was accepting the nomination from the Republican Party.

I was also fortunate enough to escort several pro football teams to the Orange Bowl stadium for playoff games.

After having a couple of minor accidents on the motorcycle, this led to my transferring to the Metro-Dade Organized Crime Bureau. With so many dog and horse race tracks around the Miami area, I was assigned to investigate sports book makers as part of a gambling squad.

I remarried in 1966 and moved from Miami to Hendry County around 1972 to be closer to my in-laws, transferring to the Hendry County Sheriff’s Department.

When Hendry Sheriff Earl Dyess was murdered by teenagers high in 1980, I jumped into the political race. I ran for Sheriff as a write candidate since books were closed on a current re-election bid by the deceased Sheriff. The only way to enter was by write in. I won the race and was only the second person in State of Florida to ever win as a write candidate at that time. I attended FBI Academy Sheriff’s Institute training In Quantico, VA.

I ran for a second term fours years late, losing to the deceased sheriff’s son. After losing the race I retired from law enforcement and went to work with Waste Management, Inc. in their Risk Management Dept. as Safety Manager. I was transferred to Atlanta by Waste Management as Regional Safety Manager (several state responsibilities) in 1991. I wasn’t in the position 6 months when the company downsized. Losing the job I went into a 9 year career in hospital safety and security until resigning to take position at the rank of Major in charge of Internal Affairs for murdered Sheriff- elect Derwin Brown in DeKalb County – 2000. He was murdered just days before taking office.

I have a son and daughter by this marriage and two beautiful grand daughters. Everyone is in the Atlanta area which makes it nice.

I am currently with Dekalb County Government as Manager of Security Services, responsible for multi-facilities. There is no where near the excitement associated with this position as the law enforcement career but it is a satisfying career and pays the bills since my retirement pension from Florida is so low.  I’ll retire permanently towards the end of this year.