NEWS RELEASE 19-115 - JULY 11, 2019
Sheriff Tom Knight, Lieutenant Chris Meyers, Sergeant Chris Schale, Sergeant Annick Gagne, Sergeant Latasha Henderson, Sergeant Danny Patnaude, and Colonel Kurt A. Hoffman.
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight is pleased to announce the promotion of five Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office members.
Deputy Chris Schale is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Law Enforcement Division. Schale began his service career in 1997 when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps where he was promoted to sergeant and earned several awards including the National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and more. From 2002 to 2009, Schale served as a police officer in Irvine, Texas before joining the sheriff’s office in 2012. Schale is a member of the SWAT Team and field training officer who has been nominated for employee of the month three times throughout his career. He has training in firearms instruction, crisis intervention, basic homicide investigations, and more. Schale earned his master’s degree from American Military University.
Deputy Annick Gagne is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Law Enforcement Division. Gagne launched her career in 2006 with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. While in Tallahassee, she also worked for the Florida House of Representatives. Gagne earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University and was hired by the sheriff’s office in 2011. Gagne has worked in both the Patrol Bureau and Criminal Investigations Section.
Deputy Danny Patnaude is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Patnaude was hired by the sheriff’s office in 2007 and earned his corrections certification in 2008. He became a corrections training officer in 2016 and has training in several areas including advanced report writing, verbal judo, crisis intervention, stress management techniques, Florida general instructor techniques and field training.
Deputy Latasha Henderson is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Henderson earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida in 2008. She started her career in the healthcare field before joining the sheriff’s office in 2009. While serving at the Sarasota County Jail, Henderson earned her law enforcement certification and was assigned to the Court Services Bureau. She has been nominated for employee of the month three times and has advanced training in crisis intervention as well as case preparation and court presentation.
Sergeant Chris Meyers is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Meyers served in the U.S. Army from 1986 to 2006 and retired as an E-7 Sergeant First Class. He earned several recognitions including an Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, South West Asia Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star, Korea Defense Service Medal, and others. In 2007, Meyers was hired by the sheriff’s office and promoted to sergeant in 2010. Meyers graduated from the 83rd Command Officer Development Course through the Southern Police Institute and has advanced training in several areas including field training, managing and communicating with inmates, interview and interrogations, internal affairs, crisis intervention, and more.
“Today is an exciting day for these five members and an exciting day for our community,” commented Sheriff Tom Knight. “Each of these newly promoted supervisors have a unique skill set from military service to crisis intervention training to experience on the road and experience within a correctional facility. I am proud to see each rise through the ranks and continue their commitment to service in new and challenging capacities.”