Candidate: Mike Fisher

WHO AM I AND WHERE I COME FROM

Hello, my name is Mike Fisher. I am running to be your next Osceola County Sheriff. I have been a resident of Kissimmee for the last 39 years. After retiring from the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office as a Captain in 2016, I still have a passion to continue to serve this great county and its diverse citizens. From the age of 19, I have dedicated my entire life to serving Osceola County. I have over 29 years of proven leadership and comprehensive Law Enforcement experience at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. I know firsthand what it takes to keep our county and your family safe. I want to bring back pride to the Sheriff’s Office through full transparency, professionalism and most importantly the concept of service. I want to build an agency that understands its core mission of law enforcement by utilizing proven policing concepts, strong community partnerships and providing our deputies with the best training possible. In doing these things, it is my vision to make the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office the best trained, equipped and performing Sheriff’s Office in the state of Florida.

I was born in Peoria, Illinois into a blue collar family. I lived in East Peoria until I was 12. My family moved myself, my brother, Tim, and my sister, Madie, to Kissimmee in 1980. I grew up in Buena Ventura Lakes (BVL) and went to a private Christian School. I met my wife-to-be Rachel Haselden Fisher at the age of 13. We attended school together until graduating high school and getting married shortly after in 1986. I have been married to my wonderful wife ever since. Rachel and I have three children. Our daughter, Colette, and our two sons, Jared & Jordan. We have always lived in and raised our children in Osceola County. Our four grandsons live and are being raised here, as well. We have been planted into Osceola County for over 40 years and our roots run deep and wide. It is our goal to serve and care for Osceola County because this is where we intend to live, stay and continue to watch our family expand and grow. Right here in this community.

I had a life-long love of law enforcement which began with my Uncle, Paul Fisher. He was the first of the Fisher Family to join the law enforcement ranks. Since that time, law enforcement has proudly become a family calling. Today I have 10 family members who have been or currently are law enforcement officers. This includes cousins, uncles, my brother, my nephews and both of my own sons. Public service has been taught and lived by example in our family.

Two of my four grandsons who are 6 & 3 have already announced their intentions to follow us into the “family business”.

As a teenager I was a member of the Kissimmee Police Department’s Explorer Program while in high school. In 1987 I enrolled into the Kissimmee Police Academy and was later hired as a Reserve Deputy by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office on my 19th birthday. I later attended the J.C. Stone Memorial Police Academy in Orlando and became a full time Deputy Sheriff ten months later. I was a quick study. I loved being a deputy and helping people and I spent the next 29 and ½ years serving the great citizens of this county at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. I rose through the ranks slowly earning my way to the rank of Captain. I gained extensive knowledge of the overall operations of the Sheriff’s Office in the areas of personnel and resource management, training, budgeting and fiscal responsibility, as well as developing strong partnerships with the community and other government entities. Along the way I had many successes and have earned commendations from multiple law enforcement agencies and private organizations.

AWARDS

• ·        Life Saving Award – Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, 2004
• ·        Central Florida Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, 1989
• ·        Law Enforcement Officer of the Year – Knights of Columbus, 2005
• ·        Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Community Service Award – Central                 Florida Shriners, 2005
• ·        Deputy Sheriff of the Year – Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, 2004
• ·        Deputy Sheriff of the Month – Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, 12/2012,                     10/2004, 01/1992 & 03/1990
• ·        Law Enforcement Commendation Medal – Sons of the American Revolution,             2007
• ·        Award of Commendation – Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, 2003
• ·        Award of Commendation – Orlando Police Department, 2006
• ·        Award of Commendation – Orange County Sheriff’s Office, 1998 & 2009
• ·        Unit Citations (3) – Osceola County Sheriff’s Office
• ·        Central Florida Tourist Policing Award – ASIS, 2009

During the first 16 years of my career I have worked in almost every area of the Sheriff’s Office practicing my trade and preparing myself. I have a very diverse background in law enforcement operations. As a Patrol Deputy and Field Training Officer training new recruits I worked every area of this county patrolling the streets and taking calls for service. As a Detective I have worked in all areas of the Criminal Investigations Division investigating all types of incidents from burglaries and auto theft, as a Property Crimes Detective. I worked tourist related crime as a Detective assigned to the West 192 area. As a Detective assigned to a Street Crimes Unit, I gained experience in working robberies, prostitution and drug related crimes. I have worked undercover in narcotics and investigated gang activity as a member of the Street Narcotics and Gang Unit. I have also worked the most violent of crimes such as sex crimes, homicides and other major persons crimes as a Detective working Persons Crimes. I gained valuable experience working in the Sheriff’s Office Court Services Division. During my time in Court Services I worked as a Court Deputy protecting judicial proceedings. I also spent time as a Civil Deputy serving injunctions, evictions and subpoenas. As a Warrants Deputy I worked fugitive extradition traveling in state and out to bring fugitives back to Osceola County, as well serving arrest warrants on a daily basis.

In 2003 I was promoted to Sergeant where I led a Field Training squad in Patrol. Later I was asked to create a new unit to focus on tourist related crime in the West 192 corridor. In doing that I addressed what our tourist businesses needed and knew they needed a hands on team to deal with their issues. From that the Tourism Policing Unit was made, which consisted of plain clothes detectives who would focus on crime trends and utilize Intelligence led policing. It was the first unit of its kind at the Sheriff’s Office built on the principles of Intelligence led policing and the success was immediate. As a Sergeant I also assisted in establishing a self-dedicated Robbery Unit that was created to deal with any robbery in the county. That Unit continues to flourish today and has maintained over an 80% clearance rate, which is almost unheard of. Also as a Sergeant, I was a founding member of the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Response Team that was formed after the three hurricanes that hit our area in 2004.

In 2009 I was promoted to Lieutenant and remained for 7 years, again gaining valuable experience and preparing myself for the next step. During my time as a Lieutenant I commanded the West Criminal Investigations Division which included the West 192 area and Poinciana area. In that capacity I over saw all Criminal Investigations personnel assigned to that region, including the Tourism Policing Unit and the Robbery Unit. In addition, I served for 6 months as the acting Caption for the entire West side command which included the Patrol Division as well. I was later asked to take over command of our Intelligence Section and use the principles of Intelligence Led Policing and Comp Stat to drive our crime fighting efforts agency wide and use technology as a force multiplier. In that role I over saw the Intelligence Unit, Crime Analysis Unit, the Gang Unit and the US Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force assignment. Also while in command of the Intelligence Unit I was able to have all of our Gang Detectives cross sworn by the US Marshals Service in order to work cross jurisdictional gang activity. In 2012 I was a Platoon leader representing the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida. This was a historic event from the law enforcement aspect.  The first ever political party national convention that ended with zero property damage and only 2 arrests, one of which was made by me. After the retiring of our commander from the Emergency Response Team I was appointed the new Commander of the team.

In 2016 I was appointed to the rank of Captain by Sheriff Bob Hansell to take command over the entire West and South Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions, and I continued to be the Commander of the Emergency Response Team as an extra duty assignment until my retirement.

 EDUCATION and TRAINING

I attended Columbia College majoring in Criminal Justice. I am a graduate of the University of Louisville, Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer’s School. I am a graduate of the Florida Sheriff’s Association Commanders Academy (Class #4). I am a graduate of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Intelligence Commander’s Program. I have over 2000 hours of advanced training and have received advanced certifications through the state of Florida as a General Instructor, High Liability Driving Instructor, Field Training Officer and Advanced Interview and Interrogation.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

Volunteer P.E. Coach – Implemented a Physical Education Program for Heartland Preparatory School (currently City of Life). Coached and mentored children in grades 1-8 over a two-year period.

Volunteer Ice Hockey Coach & Administrator – Ran the youth hockey program at the “Ice Factory” a local ice rink for six years, growing the organization from 20 children and 4 teams to over 300 players and 20+ teams. Elected and served 3 years as President of the Florida Youth Hockey League which was comprised of over 1,200 youth hockey players. Oversaw all competitive youth hockey in the state of Florida and traveled the state for games and tournaments. Also, organized the State Finals and Playoffs each year.

Past President Gateway High School Athletics Booster – Volunteered as a parent athletic booster for 4 years and elected club President. Organized and assisted at weekly sporting events. Awarded Gateway High School’s Parent Volunteer of the Year in 2006.

Organized Law Enforcement Charity Events – Co-Created the first official “Guns & Hoses” annual charity ice hockey game between firefighters and law enforcement officers in 1996, This event is still held today. For 2 years, I organized and ran “The Pig Skin Classic”, a charity flag football tournament held at Disney’s Wide World of Sports to benefit Special Olympics. This event involved 20 teams comprised of law enforcement officers and firefighters from across the state, raising over $10,000 in the last event.

Local Boards that I serve on or have served on are:

• ·       Board of Directors Boys and Girls Club, Kissimmee
• ·       School Board Member at St Cloud Prepartory Academy
• ·       Central Florida Regional Commission on Homelessness – Osceola Board                  (past Board Member)

 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

• Member International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA)
• Member Inter Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts (IALEIA)
• Member National Technical Investigators Association (NATIA)
• Member Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA)
• Member Central Florida Hotel Lodging Association (past member)
• Member International Tourism Safety Association
• Member American Jail Association
• Member Kissimmee/Osceola Chamber of Commerce

I humbly ask for your vote in 2020, Thank you.