Flagler Beach, FL (June 4, 2021) – The Florida Police Chiefs Association established the Police Officer of the Year Award in 1998 to recognize Police Officers who have demonstrated exceptional achievement and shown a genuine commitment to their profession, their agency and the public they serve.
On January 11, 2001 the Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal to honor the memory of Lee McGehee, a retired Police Chief from Ocala, who passed away on September 19, 2000, by naming the Police Officer of the Year Award after him. Subsequently, on June 10, 2001, the Board decided to expand the scope of the program to recognize an Officer of the Year from small (1 – 30 sworn officers), medium (31 – 75 sworn officers) and large (more than 75 sworn officers) size agencies.
The City of Flagler Beach is proud to announce that we’ve received notification from the
Florida Police Chief’s Association Awards Committee that Flagler Beach Detective Rosanna Vinci is this year’s recipient of the Lee McGehee Award for small Law Enforcement agencies; less than thirty (30) sworn Officers.
In response to receiving the great news, Flagler Beach City Manager, Mr. William Whitson, stated “The Chief of Police and I are thrilled to have Detective Vinci recognized. It’s an honor to have such a professional working on our Team”.
Detective Vinci will receive the McGehee Award at the Florida Police Chief’s Associations Summer Conference at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
Detective Vinci stated “I always knew from the age of 10 that I would be a Detective; I just didn’t know where. Fate decided Flagler Beach was where I was meant to be. Protecting the people of my community; to include visitors, is my main purpose. The oath I took means more to me than just words I’m expected to repeat back on the day I was sworn in. I literally breathe, eat, and drink that oath. I am proud of my community and to have the honor of protecting.”
Detective Vinci has been a member of the Flagler Beach Police Department for seven (7) years and she has worked in Criminal Investigations since January 2019.
Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt Doughney, who received the initial news from the Florida Police Chief’s Association, stated “Thanks to the Awards Committee for recognizing what an amazing job Detective Vinci does for our community. She is truly deserving of this award. Her tenacity, self-motivation and desire to make Flagler Beach a safe place to live, work and visit is commendable and worthy of this prestigious award”.
News Release – Flagler Beach Police Chief Matt P. Doughney
