Clearwater, FL December 11 - Firefighters are in the business of saving lives.  Sometimes under extreme circumstances, that can include one another. Clearwater’s Firefighter of the Year rescued an unconscious co-worker from the water during a training accident.

On June 11, 2008, Lt. Matt Daerr was participating in a personal watercraft training exercise in Tampa Bay. Firefighter/Fire Medic Jason Matthews, who was also in the exercise, was thrown from his Jet Ski after coming across the wake from a boat.  He was knocked unconscious in the water. Lt. Daerr immediately went to FM Matthew’s rescue.  He pulled FM Matthews from the water and brought him back to shore. Under the extreme circumstances of this water rescue, his action was exemplary and it is an example of the first-rate firefighting/rescue skills he possesses. His training, courage, and quick thinking saved FM Matthew’s life.

Too many people, knowledge of what law enforcement agencies do is limited to what they might have seen in television dramas or news stories. For this reason, many people have only a limited understanding of how a professional law enforcement agency operates and what its employees do.

Deputies and other uniformed members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are the most visible part of the agency, but there are many employees whose efforts are not as visible, yet they are vital to our success. These jobs include a wide variety of accounting, clerical, communication,

Too many people, knowledge of what law enforcement agencies do is limited to what they might have seen in television dramas or news stories.  For this reason, many people have only a limited understanding of how a professional law enforcement agency operates and what its employees do.  Deputies and other uniformed members of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office are the most visible part of the agency, but there are many employees whose efforts are not as visible, yet they are vital to our success.  These jobs include a wide variety of accounting, clerical, communication, maintenance and many other support positions without which the Sheriff’s Office would have difficulty in providing meaningful service to the public.

One important, yet seldom recognized function of any law enforcement agency is professional record management.  When it comes to maintaining the Sheriff’s Office criminal records database, the job is handled by our Records Division.  In most cases, until there is a need for a copy of report, the round-the-clock important tasks performed by the members of this division go largely unnoticed.

To accomplish their mission, the Sheriff’s Office Records Division is separated into three different units, each of which has specific responsibilities pertaining to law enforcement records.  Criminal records are constructed, validated, archived, and disseminated by members of this unit as necessary in accordance with Florida public record laws. For this reason, criminal records from the present dating back to the 1950s are currently preserved.

  Nearly forty-five years ago President John F. Kennedy signed a law designating May 15th as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.  Each year on this date we remember the sacrifice made by law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty nationwide.  The calendar week, beginning on Sunday, which includes May 15th has become known as National Police Week.
  For the past twenty years a Law Enforcement Memorial Service has been held in Pinellas County during National Police Week.  The service features a roll call of the 20 law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty in Pinellas County since 1905.   These fallen officers are also recognized during the ceremony by a wreath laying, a 21-gun-salute and the playing of "Taps."