Ocala Police Department

#OcalaPD Corporal Ocasio and Community Liaison Tara Woods visited Episcopal Children Service's Head Start and Early Head Start programs to read the book Officer Magic is My Friend to the kids. Officer Magic, a mini horse, joined the session, bringing extra excitement. The children had a wonderful time! This event is part of OPD's R.E.A.D. (Read, Explore, and Discover) program, which encourages positive interactions between police officers and kids while promoting literacy.

30 YEARS! During last night's council meeting, Captain Charlie Eades was recognized for his remarkable 30 years of service to the City of Ocala. Capt. Eades began his career with the Ocala Police Department in 1995. Over the years, he has held various roles, including Patrol Officer, D.A.R.E. Officer, School Resource Officer, and Major Crimes Detective. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2007, where he worked in Patrol, led the Crisis Negotiations Team, and supervised sections like Economic Crimes and Intelligence. In 2016, he became a Lieutenant, managing the Technical Services Section and serving as a Watch Commander in Patrol. By March 2018, he was promoted to Captain, overseeing areas such as the East Side District, Professional Standards, and the Criminal Investigations Division. Currently, he serves as the Director of Training in the Resource Development section. Capt. Eades also chairs the Ocala/Newbridge Twinning Committee and is planning his 10th trip to Ireland for Saint Patrick’s Day. He also serves as President of the Marion County Public Safety Assistance Trust Program, a charity supporting First Responders in need. Capt. Eades holds a Doctorate in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from Saint Leo University, and an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the College of Central Florida. He is a firm believer in life-long learning and enjoys sharing his knowledge to enhance systems for efficiency. Congratulations, Capt. Eades, on your 30 years of leadership and dedicated service to the City of #Ocala!

HAPPY RETIREMENT! We would like to thank Lieutenant Michelle Green for nearly 26 remarkable years of service with the #Ocala Police Department! Joining #OcalaPD in 1999, Michelle's career was filled with dedicated service and outstanding leadership. She served in patrol and the K9 unit before being promoted to Sergeant in 2015. As a sergeant, she supervised patrol, K9 unit, directed patrol unit, field training, and worked in the Office of Professional Standards. In 2020, Michelle reached the rank of Lieutenant, serving as a watch commander and overseeing the Technical Services Section. Throughout her career, she earned numerous awards and commendations, reflecting her outstanding contributions. We are truly grateful for Michelle's commitment to keeping Ocala safe and her positive impact on our community. Congratulations, Michelle! We wish you a joyful and fulfilling retirement!

15 YEARS! At last night's City of Ocala council meeting, Lieutenant Charles Hunt was acknowledged for 15 years of exceptional #lawenforcement service to our community. He has served as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Motor Officer, Traffic Homicide Investigator, Major Crimes Detective, Property Crimes Detective, and SWAT team member. After being promoted to Sergeant, he supervised in Patrol, the Traffic Unit, and the Office of Professional Standards. Currently, Lt. Hunt is a Watch Commander in the Community Policing Bureau. Congratulations, Lt. Hunt, on your 15 years of dedicated service and for keeping the City of #Ocala safe! #OcalaPD

HAPPY RETIREMENT! We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to Sergent Frank Zadnik for his 22 years of dedicated service to Ocala PD! Your commitment and hard work have made a lasting impact on our agency, and we appreciate all that you have done. Congratulations on your well-earned retirement—wishing you all the best in this next chapter! Thank you, Sgt. Zadnik, for all you've done for the city of Ocala!

SWEARING-IN! We are proud to announce the swearing-in of eight new police officers who have joined our team. We'd like to congratulate Ofc. Toribio, Ofc. Morley, Ofc. Guerrero, Ofc. Meinnert, Ofc. Locke, Ofc. Woods, Ofc. Kabbourim, Ofc. Jalloh, Ofc. Diaz, and Ocf. Binegar on their accomplishments. Welcome to the OPD family! With a solemn oath administered by Mayor Ben Marciano, these individuals have pledged to serve and protect our community with integrity, courage, and character. We are excited to have them on board to help us achieve our mission of ensuring public safety and enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of the City of Ocala. Please join us in welcoming and congratulating our new police officers. We wish them all the best in their new roles and look forward to the great things they will accomplish as they work to keep #Ocala safe for everyone.

911 #HERO! A big shout out to Anthony Pierre of our 911 Communication Center! His efforts helped save a young man’s life during a critical emergency. The incident occurred when a 21-year-old collapsed in the freezer of a Publix, prompting his colleagues to dial 911. Initially, the incident was treated as a traumatic injury. However, Anthony advised the caller to check the patient's breathing and discovered he was in cardiac arrest. With Anthony’s guidance, those on the scene performed CPR and utilized an AED, ultimately saving the young man's life. Well done, Anthony!

JOIN OUR TEAM! At #OcalaPD, our 911 Dispatchers are more than just voices on the line; they are life-saving heroes who work hard to serve our community and first responders. With each emergency call, 911 Dispatchers contribute directly to keeping our citizens safe and ensuring that help arrives when it's needed most. Would you like to join #Ocala PD as a 911 Dispatcher? If you can stay calm under pressure and have a passion for helping others, we invite you to apply for this vital position. You can make a real difference in people's lives—one call at a time! No experience is required; we will provide comprehensive training! Starting pay is $19.23 an hour, and with continued training, you could earn up to $26 an hour. Apply today at: https://lnkd.in/enFNZujt

It's #NationalPoliceWomansDay! Today, we especially honor the hard-working women who have sworn to serve and protect our city as law enforcement officers. 40 women serve the #Ocala #Police Department as sworn police officers, including a major, captains, lieutenants, sergeants, detectives, school resource officers, and patrol officers. Thank you for serving our community with #integrity, #courage, and #character!

During the recent City of Ocala council meeting, our drug unit was recognized for this past year's achievements! Led by the Ocala Police Department, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team (UDEST) is a collaborative effort involving law enforcement personnel from the Ocala PD, the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Fifth Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations. Their goal is to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations within Marion County. Throughout the past year, UDEST agents executed 74 search warrants, initiated 10 wiretap investigations, and made 352 arrests during targeted operations. Among those arrested, some individuals were convicted of manslaughter and others received life sentences for drug trafficking offenses. During this time, UDEST seized over $3.4 million worth of drugs and assets, including more than 52 pounds of #fentanyl, 68 pounds of crystal meth, and over 45 pounds of cocaine. Additionally, agents successfully rescued a confidential source from gunmen during a controlled narcotics transaction, apprehending the suspects without firing a shot. These achievements reflect the dedication, tenacity, and personal commitment of the UDEST team. They were recently honored as the 2024 Statewide Drug Unit of the Year by the Florida Narcotics Officers Association—marking the fourth consecutive year for this #award. The members of this team work hard day in and day out, often giving up their weekends and holidays. They operate in a high-risk and technical environment and have been extremely successful in taking dangerous people and illegal drugs off the streets. Congratulations to UDEST! Thank you for making #Ocala and #MarionCounty a safer place for everyone!