ASK THE SHERIFF
BSO’S REMARKABLE WOMEN
I
By Sheriff Gregory Tony
am so proud and honored to work alongside the remarkable women who serve in departments across the Broward Sheriff’s Office. In recognition of Women’s History Month, I want to take this opportunity to highlight just a few of the extraordinary women of BSO making a difference throughout this community. There’s a good reason Deputy Vickie Kendrick was recognized as the 2019 BSO Captain Renee Peterson talks with a Deputy Vickie Kendrick delivers special local resident during one of her regular Valentine’s Day gifts to the residents Department of Detention Employee of the Operation Helping Hands deliveries. of a local assisting living facility. Year. She is a dedicated, hardworking, and have hosted thousands of people in their leads BSO’s groundbreaking Social Justice selfless individual who gives her best to virtual firehouse tours, hands-only CPR, and Task Force. “We all benefit when we work everyone she encounters, both on and off bleeding control courses. “We are busier together to build a better understanding of the job. At work, she is a leader in every than ever,” Courtney says. A champion of each other,” she says. Day or night, Captain sense of the word, serving as a mentor to good causes, she also chairs BSO’s new Peterson is out in the community listening, new deputies who join the team. While off LGBTQ+ Liaison Committee and donates her collaborating, and working together to estabduty, Deputy Kendrick uses her time and time, energy, and even her hair, to charitable lish positive change. resources to help families in Broward. From causes. “I really should get a T-shirt that ensuring kids have clothes and supplies In her 26 years with BSO, Jennifer reads: Stop me from volunteering,” she jokes. Bourgouin serves as our agency’s each school year to assisting with gifts and meals during the holiday season, her mantra “But I just love helping any way I can.” Emergency Management Program is: “I am blessed, and I want the children in I know few people who have the poise, Coordinator. Providing essential adminthe community to know that someone cares.” grace, determination, and leadership istrative and managerial support for the Deputy Kendrick’s commitment to service is necessary to tackle the tremendous Emergency Management Program, Jennifer a true testament to her personal and profeschallenges we’ve all faced this past year; faced a new challenge this past year with the sional success. Captain Renee Peterson is one of them. As COVID-19 pandemic. Accustomed to shortcaptain of the Neighborhood Support Team, term, in-person activations in the Sheriff’s For nearly 18 years, Fire Rescue Public she has been a lifeline to our communities. Emergency Operation Center (SEOC), Education Manager Courtney Palmer has Since March 2020, she and her team have Jennifer was able to adapt quickly, successhelped develop a public education program helped put food on the table for thousands fully implementing a remote emergency that is second to none. Despite COVID-19 of Broward residents through Operation response. “I am very proud of how we came restricting in-person instruction, Courtney Helping Hands, a partnership with Feeding together as a response team,” she says. and her incredible team, who also happen to South Florida. During the social justice “Every disaster is different, but I’m confident be women – Life Safety Educators Melanie protests last summer, Captain Peterson’s that through our training and preparedness Brocato, Rebecca Lowe-Johnson, and focus was rooted in quelling unrest, listening efforts, we can handle anything.” As our Leah Wilson – have evolved and adapted, to our communities, and creating new battle against COVID-19 persists, Jennifer’s developing new, creative learning opportuopportunities for understanding. Today, she supportive efforts continue in the SEOC. nities in our virtual world. Collectively, they The remarkable women highlighted here Emergency Management Program Coordinator BSO Fire Rescue’s Public Education Team: Life Safety Jennifer Bourgouin working in the SEOC at are just a few of the many others who serve Educators Rebecca Lowe-Johnson, Melanie Brocato, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Manager Courtney Palmer and Leah Wilson. across BSO. Their dedication to service is unrivaled. I genuinely believe that our organization and our community are better because of their service. Service Equals Reward
Sheriff Gregory Tony Sheriff Gregory Tony
⊲ You can stay connected by following the sheriff on Twitter @BrowardSheriff or emailing him directly at ask_the_sheriff@sheriff.org
16 / March 2021 / OurCityMedia.com
