Florida Police Chiefs Association

Florida Police Chiefs Association Executive Board

Chief Gerald Monahan, President

Chief Monahan has been a law enforcement officer for 36 years. He is a graduate of the 120th Session of the FBI National Academy, the 38th Session of the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Political Science. He began his career in 1971 in Allentown, Pennsylvania and retired there as Chief of Police after 28½ years of service. In 1999, Chief Monahan was hired as the Chief of Police for the City of Port Orange.

Upon his hiring at the Port Orange Police Department, he made it a priority to become actively involved with the Florida Police Chiefs Association. In 2000-2001, he served on the FPCA's Redistricting Committee and subsequently Chaired this committee as the issue was revisited in 2006. In 2002, Chief Monahan was selected to represent District 8 on the Board of Directors and was appointed as Chair of the Membership Committee serving in those capacities up to his election as 3rd Vice President in 2006. He has served as a member of the Highway Safety Committee since 2003 and Chaired the Executive Training Integration Ad Hoc committee in 2006 as well.

In 2003, he was nominated and appointed to represent Florida's Police Chiefs on the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. He also serves as a Trustee on the Association's Education and Research Foundation. Chief Monahan is a life member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association and is the Immediate Past President of the Volusia - Flagler County Police Chiefs Association. He is a member of the 24th Congressional Districts’ Homeland Security and Public Safety Advisory Committee and also a member of the Daytona Beach Community College Criminal Justice Advisory Board.

Chief Dorene Thomas, 1st Vice President

Chief Dorene Thomas is a 32 year veteran police officer. She was appointed as Pinellas Park Police Department's Police Chief in 2000; and she and her department of 156 personnel serve a community of over 48,000 residents. She began her career with St. Pete Beach Police Department in 1975 and was hired by Pinellas Park Police Department in 1980.

As a member of the Florida Police Chiefs Association since 2001 she served as District 12 Director - 2005/2006, Training Committee Chair - since 2004, Training Committee Co-Chair - 2003/2004, Awards Committee Member - since 2003.

On the eve of the five year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Chief Thomas represented the Association in New York City at the Tribute to the Nation's First Responders.

Presently serving on the Criminal Justice Information and Systems Council, Statewide Law Enforcement Connectivity Workgroup. She also served on the steering committee for the inaugural sergeant's academy and the Saddlebrook Summer Conference. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Within her local community, her associations include: Tampa Bay Area Police Chiefs Association - Past President and Past Vice President; Past Chairperson of Pinellas Police Standards; St. Petersburg College Advisory Board, Regional Community Policing Training Advisory Board, St. Petersburg College Region IX Criminal Justice Training Council, CASA's Visitation Advisory Board, and Church of Transfiguration Ministry and Choir.

She holds an AS in Police Administration from St. Petersburg College, BS degree in Criminal Justice from University of South Florida, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University. She is a graduate of the FBINA 169th Session, Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute, and the USF Executive Fellows Program. As an Adjunct Professor at St. Petersburg College, she teaches Strategic Planning, Patrol Issues, Criminal Investigations, and Management of Specialized Units. She retired as Chief Petty Officer from the United States Naval Reserve in 2003.

Chief Peter Paulding, 2nd Vice President

Chief Paulding has been a law enforcement officer since 1972. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration. He began his career in Plymouth, Massachusetts and retired as Chief of Police from Grafton, Massachusetts in 2001. In 2001 Chief Paulding was hired as the Chief of Police in the Gulf Breeze Police Department. The GBPD is the first law enforcement agency in the panhandle to be accredited by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation and has also achieved National Recognition status from CALEA. GBPD has been CFA accredited for 10 years.

Chief Paulding became actively involved with the Florida Police Chiefs Association as soon as he arrived in Florida. Since joining the Florida Police Chiefs Association in 2001, he was selected as the FPCA representative to the Florida Governor's Citizen Corps Task Force in 2003. He was also selected to represent District 10 on the Board of Directors in 2004 and served in that capacity until his election as the Association's 3rd Vice President in June, 2007.

In 2004 he was nominated to represent Florida's Police Chiefs on the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation and was subsequently appointed. He was also tasked with spearheading the FPCA Disaster Task Force initiative in 2005 and has succeeded in completing the project and received ratification of the plan by the Directors in 2006. The Board of Directors bestowed the 2005 selection of the Directors Choice Award for his efforts in this endeavor. Chief Paulding brought the International Association of Chiefs of Police New Chiefs Mentorship initiative to the FPCA Board in 2007 and the board endorsed FPCA participation, making Florida the 5th state association to formally partner with the IACP and cross promote each other's endeavors. FPCA was provided with their own separate chapter in the IACP Police Desk Reference manual.

Chief Paulding serves as Chair of the Training and Education Advisory Committee, George Stone Criminal Justice Training Center; the Co-Chair of the Security and Communication Sub-Committee, CEO Roundtable, Santa Rosa County; and as Chair of the Florida Region One Anti-Terrorism Task Force, Equipment Committee. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service award from Chapter VI of the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency in 2006.

Under Chief Paulding's leadership, the Gulf Breeze Police Department has won the Rocky Pomerance Excellence in Policing award in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, as well as the ITT/IACP Community Policing award in 2003 and the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge award in 2006.

3rd Vice President - Vacant

Chief Jay Romine, Secretary/Treasurer

Chief Jay Romine began his career with the Holmes Beach Police Department as a part-time patrol officer in 1979. Since that time he has served as a patrol officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, lieutenant, assistant chief of police and has served as chief of police since July 1993.

Chief Romine is a native of Manatee County and is an alumnus of Southeast High School, Manatee Community College, Auburn University and The University of South Florida. He is a graduate of the 184th Session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA, and is also a graduate of the Criminal Justice Executive Seminar, Class 12.

Chief Romine currently serves as the Chairman of the Manatee County Law Enforcement Council, is a Past President of the Tampa Bay Area Chief's of Police Association and a Past President of the Florida Police Chief's Association.

In August of 2002, Chief Romine was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to serve a four-year term as one of three police chiefs in the State on the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. He was reappointed by Governor Bush in 2006 and currently serves as CJSTC Chairman. He also serves on the Criminal Justice Executive Institute Policy Board.

Chief Romine's hobbies include hunting and golf. He is active in the music ministry of First Baptist Church of Bradenton, and is married to Jayne and has one daughter, Ashley.

Chief Nolan McLeod, Immediate Past President

Chief W. Nolan McLeod's career in Florida law enforcement began 25 years ago at the Bartow Police Department; where he served as patrol officer, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, patrol lieutenant, and agency training officer. During that time Chief McLeod continued his education by completing a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from St. Leo University. He also attended both the Southern Police Institute's Command Officer Development and the FBI National Academy.

In May of 1996, Chief McLeod began his service to the City of Live Oak as police chief when he accepted the challenge of creating a new police department in Live Oak, Fla. Today, the Live Oak Police Department is a progressive state-accredited agency that has formed active partnerships with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

In January of 2007, Chief McLeod was sworn in and is currently serving as Chief of Police in Auburndale, Florida.

Chief McLeod and his wife Nancy have been married for 29 years. They have two sons, Joe who is the special events manager for the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches, and Chad who is a staff assistant in the Tampa office of Senator Mel Martinez. In his spare time Chief McLeod enjoys playing the guitar and banjo. He is active in his church where he sings in the choir and teaches classes.

Chief McLeod is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the Florida Police Chief's Association, and the Tampa Bay Area Police Chiefs Association.

Chief Lionel Cote, Past President at Large

Lionel A. Cote's experience and education in a law enforcement career spans more than 40 years since enlisting in the United States Army Military Police in 1961.

He spent 3 years as a Military Police Officer, United States Army, 9 1/2 years as a Trooper, Maine State Police. 2 1/2 years as a Police Chief, Town of Sabattus, Maine. 2 terms as Sheriff, Androscoggin County, Maine, appointed by Governor Brennan as Maine State Director of the Bureau of Civil Emergency Preparedness, 1979. 4 years as a Police Chief, Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Appointed Chief of Police in Satellite Beach in 1985 to present.

Chief Cote holds an Associate of science degree in criminal justice from the University of Maine, Bachelor of Science Degree Cum Laude in Criminal Justice from the University of Maine. Master of Science Degree in Police Science from St. John's University, A graduate of the National Sheriff's Institute at the University of Southern California (11th Session), A Graduate of the New England Institute of Law Enforcement Management at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, A Graduate of the FBI National Academy (115th Session), A Graduate of the Florida Police Chiefs Executive Institute, The Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute (12th Session), The FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, LEEDS (Class 32) and numerous courses sponsored by the FBI, the Florida Police Chiefs, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Career Development Programs sponsored by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Chief Executive Seminar, Sessions I, II and III-FDLE, Advanced Chiefs of Police Seminar-FDLE, Basic Chiefs Seminar-FDLE.

SPECIAL AWARDS:
17 Gallon Blood Donor Award, Central Florida Blood Bank (February, 2003)
Commendable Service Award by Brevard County Sheriff (1997)
Prevent Service Award, (January, 1996)
Life Membership Award - Brevard County Police Chiefs Association (1996)
Life Membership Awarded by I.A.C.P. (International Association of Chiefs of Police (1996)
Florida Metropolitan University System - Criminal Justice Award (1996)
Satellite Beach Lion's Club Appreciation Award (1996)
Satellite Beach Community Services Visionary Award (1996)
Sheriff's Achievement Award, (December, 1995)
Hurricane Erin Dedication & Appreciation Award, (1995)
Veterans of Foreign War "American Citizenship Award" (1994)
Received Outstanding Public Service Award from Satellite Beach Lions Club (1993)
Received "Good Government Award" from the South Brevard Beaches Jaycees in 1986
Received National Award from Law Enforcement Hall of Fame, Tampa, Florida for outstanding investigative work in a homicide case where he made the arrest within 30 hours (August, 1985)
Responsible for developing the Evacuation Plan for the Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant at Wiscasset, Maine (1980)
Selected by the National Jaycees as One of the Outstanding Young Men of America (1979)
Appointed a Lieutenant Colonel Aide DeCamp in the Alabama State Militia by Governor George Wallace (1978)
First Sheriff in Maine to be certified in Maine's history (1977)
County Mountie Award presented by Lexington Fayette Urban County Division of Police.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Appointed Past President at Large - Florida Police Chiefs Association,
2003-2004-2005-2006
Police Department Re-accreditation with National Recognition, June 2003
Received Top Secret Clearance from F.B.I., 04/01/03
Appointed to Region 5 Terrorism Task Force, 03/03
Brevard County Terrorism Task Force, 10/02
Served as past President, Florida Police Chiefs Association, 2002-2003
Elected President, Florida Police Chiefs Association, 2001-2002
Elected 1st Vice President, Florida Police Chiefs Association, 2000-2001
Satellite Beach Police Department attained State Accreditation (2000)
Elected 2nd Vice President, Florida Police Chiefs Association ( 1999)
Elected 3rd Vice President, Florida Police Chiefs Association (1998)
Instrumental in establishment of Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) for Brevard County, (1998)
Brevard County Drug Task Force, Leadership, (1997)
Established a Citizen's on Phone Patrol Program (COPP) Pilot Program (1997)
The Brevard County Chiefs of Police Association awarded a Life Membership in 1996
I.A.C.P. (International Association of Chiefs of Police) awarded a Life Membership in 1996
Florida Metropolitan University System, Criminal Justice Award, (1996)
Participated in establishment of county-wide Weed and Seed Program, (1996)
Participated in establishment of county-wide SHOCAP Program, (1996)
Established police officers and citizen volunteers to staff duty, (1996)
The Brevard County Chiefs of Police Association, Served as President (1988-1995-2004)
Established first Citizen's Police Academy, (1994)
Instrumental in expanding county-wide Drug Task Force to establish interdiction Efforts at Melbourne International Airport and Port Canaveral, (1991)
Established partnership with COPE of Brevard (drug rehabilitation and prevention organization) to initiate drug referrals within our Human Services operation, (1991)
The Brevard County Chiefs of Police Association, Served as Executive Secretary (1990) Sought successful passage of a city False Alarm Ordinance, (1990)
Participated in establishment of Brevard County Police Testing and Certification Center through passage of a special legislative act, (1987)
Instrumental in forming a joint agency county-wide Drug Task Force unit in Brevard County, (1986)
Lions International Club, 1986 - Present
Florida Police Chiefs Association, past member, Legislative Committee
Brevard County Chiefs of Police Association, President three times, Vice President twice, Secretary/Treasurer twice.
Law Enforcement Executive Development Association
Florida Police Chiefs Education & Research Foundation
Ashlar Lodge 105.

SERVES OR SERVED ON BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Rotary International - Honoree Membership (10/2000)
Elected 1st Vice President, Florida Police Chiefs Association (2000)
Devereaux Hospital, Board of Directors (1996 to Present)
Satellite Beach Lions Club Member, Chairman of Drug Awareness/Quest (1994 - 2000)
Director, District 7 - Florida Police Chiefs Association (1992 - 1998)
PREVENT - Federally funded Drug Education and Prevention Program Board of Directors (1992 - 1996)
AZAN Temple, Provost Corps (1990 - Present)
PaceSetters, Community Partnership Drug Awareness, Vice President (1990 - 1992)
COPE of Brevard, Board of Directors (1991 - 1994)
Coach, Satellite Beach Little League (1989 - 1993)
President, Brevard County Police Chiefs Association (1989 - 1995)
Brevard County Wide Drug Task Force (1987 - 1995)
Brevard County Police Testing and Certification at Brevard Community College (1986 - Present)
Brevard County Criminal Justice Academy at Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College Technical Advisory Committee (1986 - Present)
F.B.I. Academy Graduates, Florida Chapter (1986 - Present)
President, Town Homes of Satellite Beach (1986 - 2000)
International Association of Chiefs of Police (20 Year Member)
Holy Name of Jesus Building Committee

Chief Tony Velong, Parliamentarian

Chief Velong's 37 year career in law enforcement began in 1969 when he became a Clearwater Police Officer. He worked his way through the ranks and when he retired in August of 1991 he was the Special Operations Commander in charge of SWAT, K-9, Traffic Enforcement, Marine Enforcement, Crime Prevention, and the Community Policing stations. When he retired from Clearwater he was hired by the Temple Terrace Police Department as the Patrol Commander. As the Patrol Commander he was second in command at the Temple Terrace Police Department and was fully responsible for the uniformed operations there. Chief Velong is a zealous advocate of Community Policing and believes in developing strong relationships between the community and the police.

Chief Velong serves on the Hillsborough County Juvenile Justice Council, Hillsborough County Community Traffic Safety Team, and Hillsborough County DUI CounterAttack, DUI CounterAttack Personnel Committee, and the DUI CounterAttack Nominating Committee. He is a Board Member of the Florida Department of Transportation, Technical Advisory Committee on DUI Enforcement and Prosecution, He is a Board Member of Hillsborough County Domestic Violence Council, Hillsborough County S.A.L.T. (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Against Crime) Advisory Board, and Vice -Chair of the Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (FAST), Task Force Board of Governors. Northside Mental Health, Board of Directors, Northside Mental Health, Finance Committee, President of the Temple Terrace Rotary Club. Committee, Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce, All American City Committee, Sexual Abuse Intervention Network (SAIN) of Hillsborough County, Community Policing Advisory Committee, Chair, National Advisory Committee, Fight Crime Invest In Kids, President Florida Police Chiefs Association, Co-Chair Florida Police Chiefs Association, Highway Safety Committee, Florida Police Chiefs Strategic Ethics Committee, Florida Police Chiefs Pursuit Policy Sub-Committee. Serves on the Governors Commission for the Law Enforcement Medal of Honor, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Past President Tampa Bay Area Police Chiefs Association, International Association of Law Enforcement Planners, Florida Association of Law Enforcement Planners, Fellowship Of Christian Athletes, Greco Middle School, High School Sunday School Teacher, First Baptist Church of Temple Terrace.

Chief Velong holds an Associates Degree in Police Administration from St. Petersburg Jr. College, a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Leo College in Criminal Justice, and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Phoenix in Organizational Management and is a graduate of the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement, Executive Management Institute. He is currently enrolled at Moody Bible Institute where he is studying Theology seeking a PhD.

Chief Velong is married to Tracey and has five children: Deborah, Chad, Alex, Bekka and Ellie. He also has a granddaughter, Jessica and a granddaughter Julia. In his spare time Chief Velong likes to exercise, explore the computer world and read.