Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is proud to announce the promotion of three sheriff’s office members in a ceremony held on January 15, 2026.
Deputy Kelli Collison was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Collison was hired by the sheriff’s office in 2015 and assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Later, she transferred to Mounted Patrol and then back to the Patrol Bureau in 2020. Collison has served as a field training deputy mentoring and training newly hired deputies and has been nominated as Employee of the Month four times. Additionally, she was nominated for Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year in 2021. Sergeant Collison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of South Florida.
Deputy A. J. Conly was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Conly began his career with the sheriff’s office in 2014 as a Communications Operator III. After his promotion to Communications Operator II, he obtained his law enforcement certification while in the same year becoming a Communications Training Operator. In February of 2017, he transferred to the Law enforcement Division as a deputy. Since that time, he has served as a Field Training Deputy, Emergency Response Team member, and a detective in the Criminal Investigations Section. Conly has been recognized several times during his tenure at the sheriff’s office and has received a Life Saving Award, the Combat Cross Award, a Meritorious Achievement Award, and a Unit Citation as a member of the Emergency Response Team for his assistance during storms that affected our community in 2024. Sergeant Conly holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Management and Policy from the University of Arizona.
Sergeant Lincoln Dilling was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to the agency’s Patrol Bureau. Dilling was hired by the sheriff’s office in 2010 and assigned to the Patrol Bureau. He transferred to the Tactical Unit in 2012 and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2020. Additionally, Dilling has served on the Dive Team and is currently the team commander holding special Advanced Diver and Nitrox certifications. During his service, he has received the Combat Cross award, a Heroic Achievement award, and a Meritorious Achievement award. He has been nominated three times for Employee of the Month and received the award in April of 2013. He was also recognized and awarded the 2017 Deputy of the Year Award. Lieutenant Dilling holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida Gulf Coast University.
“It’s always a wonderful day when we celebrate the accomplishments of our employees,” said Sheriff Hoffman. “It takes diligence, discipline, and commitment to do what these members do, and we take great pride in watching them succeed and move to the next step in their careers at this agency.”