December 2, 2009
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

SHERIFF JOHNSON PROMOTES THREE DEPUTIES

Ray Almodovar, a 26-year law enforcement veteran and graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, has been tapped to become the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s newest captain. Sheriff Ben Johnson formally promoted the 49-year-old Almodovar during a ceremony on Tuesday. Also rising in the supervisory ranks during Tuesday’s promotion ceremony were Lieutenant Paul Adkins and Sergeant Mike Hattaway. Sheriff Johnson told the crowd assembled at the Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach that all three rose above strong competition to earn their new ranks. The vacancies were created after Captain Mike Coffin recently left the Sheriff’s Office to become the County’s Public Protection Director. “I want to congratulate all three of you for a job well done,” Sheriff Johnson told the trio in front of a large gathering of friends, family and co-workers. “Each and every one of you has earned this.”

A graduate of the 208^th Session of the FBI National Academy, Almodovar started with the Sheriff’s Office in 1983. Along the way, he has excelled in assignments in road patrol, court services, crime suppression and investigations. After his promotion to lieutenant in 2003, Almodovar served as assistant commander in the Sheriff’s Office’s most populous law enforcement district, Deltona. Meanwhile, Almodovar has been preparing himself for his new assignment for several years, having worked as second-in-command of the Communications Section since May 2006. As Captain, Almodovar will now head up communications, an approximately $14.9 million operation that encompasses two dispatch centers, the county’s E-911 system and 137 employees. “You’ve worked hard for this and have done us a great job,” Sheriff Johnson told Almodovar. “We look forward to many more years of service from you.”

Following his promotion to Lieutenant, Adkins was assigned to serve as the assistant commander of Communications. The 38-year-old Adkins has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 13 years and was named the agency’s deputy of the year in 1997. He has served in patrol, narcotics investigations, court services and traffic. Adkins also serves on the Sheriff’s Office’s SWAT Team and supervised the agency’s Deltona Street Crimes Unit prior to his recent promotion.

Hattaway, the agency’s newest line-level supervisor, has been with the Sheriff’s Office for seven years. The 37-year-old Hattaway has served in road patrol and court services and also as a field training officer. He will undergo in-house training before being given his permanent assignment.