Pictured from left to right: Emergency Operations Supervisor Victoria Rake, Sergeant Sarah Sanchez,
Lieutenant Jessica Evanish, Lieutenant Chris Schale, Captain Jeff Lane, and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is proud to announce the promotion of five sheriff’s office members in a ceremony held on February 13, 2024.
Emergency Operations Supervisor Victoria Rake was hired by the sheriff’s office in March of 2019 as a communications operator. In June of 2021, she was elevated to the role of communications training officer for which she received many accolades for her work and dedication. In February of 2023, her role was elevated yet again within the Emergency Operators Bureau before ultimately being promoted to the rank of supervisor.
Sergeant Sarah Sanchez was hired by the agency’s Victims Assistance Unit in 2015 after volunteering for them a year earlier. In 2017, she was hired as a law enforcement deputy, and in 2020, she transferred to the agency’s criminal investigations bureau before returning to the patrol bureau in 2023. Sgt. Sanchez was awarded the Employee of the Month award for the law enforcement division in July 2021.
Corrections Lieutenant Jessica Evanish was hired by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in 2014 as a mail clerk in the courts and corrections division. In 2015, she was awarded the Employee of the Month award for the courts and corrections division before obtaining her corrections certification. She was hired as a corrections deputy in March 2016 and subsequently promoted in October 2020 to the rank of sergeant. Lt. Evanish received a life-saving award in May 2022 for her assistance in rescuing an inmate who attempted suicide.
Lieutenant Chris Schale was hired by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in November 2011. In 2014, he was appointed to the SWAT team, and in May of the following year, he became a field training deputy for the agency. Lt. Schale worked in various bureaus, including patrol, criminal investigations, traffic, and the intelligence unit. In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was awarded the 1st annual Supervisor of the Year award for the agency’s law enforcement division in 2023. Lt. Schale enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served from 1997 to 2002. During his time as a Marine, he earned several awards, including the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
Captain Jeff Lane was hired by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in June 1990. Throughout his career, he worked in various roles, including corrections, patrol, criminal and special investigations, youth services, school resource officer, and tactical flight operator with the agency’s aviation unit. In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and again in 2018 to the rank of lieutenant. He was awarded a unit citation in 2007 for his role in a large narcotics operation, as well as two meritorious achievements following two high-profile homicide investigations. Captain Lane is a graduate of the FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Associations (FBI-LEEDA) 306th Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives, the 241st Executive Leadership Institute, as well as the Southern Police Institute’s 85th Command Officers’ Development Course through the University of Louisville.
"Our sheriff’s office leaders exemplify our core values of integrity, respect, service, and fairness. Watching each of these members take the next steps in their law enforcement careers is exciting and encouraging," said Sheriff Hoffman. "We can be assured that our agency is moving in the right direction."