Candidate: Donald Fleming

Don Fleming is a veteran law enforcement officer with more than thirty-eight years of extensive law enforcement experience. In 2004, Don was elected Flagler County\'s Sheriff and served two terms. During Don\'s tenure he implemented programs to establish and enhance communications between the Agency and Flagler County\'s communities. He established rigorous ongoing training programs focused on developing all Agencies personnel as principal-centered leaders who embody the character that the profession demands. Not to tie leadership to rank, but rather to instill leadership qualities throughout the agency. He developed strategic long-term and tactical short term plans for organizational operations that yielded better span of control and improved response time to both emergency and non-emergency calls for service. Don is a decorated Vietnam Veteran, a past member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Sheriffs Association, served on the Executive Board of the North Floridas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, served as an Advisory Board member for the Volusia-Flagler Boys and Girls Clubs, Volusia-Flagler Crime Stoppers, and RSVP Flagler. Don is a life member of VFW Post 8696, a member of the National Sheriff’s Association, an Associate member of the Marine Corps League Flagler, Detachment #876., the Knights of Columbus fourth degree Assembly 2810 and Council 10514, the Palm Coast Elks Lodge #2709 and the Portuguese American Club. A native of New York City, Don began his law enforcement career in 1973 when he was appointed to the Little Ferry, New Jersey Police Department. In 1985 Don was promoted to Detective Captain of the Investigation Division In 1987, Don was promoted to Chief of Police and served the Little Ferry community as their Chief for 14 years. Don is listed in several Who\'s Who publications and is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the New Jersey Police Honor Legion, New Jersey Police Crime Prevention Association, New Jersey Chiefs of Police Association, the Bergen County Chiefs Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation of New York, past president and gold card recipient PBA Local 102. Don is a graduate of William Paterson University with a Master\'s Degree in Urban Studies and a Bachelor\'s Degree in Criminal Justice. Don has attended professional and technical development seminars conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Secret Service, state and county law agencies served as an Adjunct Faculty member at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Criminal Justice/Sociology Department, and as guest speaker at professional seminars relating to a diverse spectrum of law enforcement topics.