BUNNELL, Fla. – As Volunteer Appreciation Month comes to a close, few stories capture its meaning more powerfully than those shared at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office recognition ceremony on April 30. The event, led by Rick Staly, honored not only exemplary service but the quiet, consistent dedication of volunteers who help keep the community safe.
Among them was Jill Dempsey, whose promotion to corporal of the morning shift in the Citizens Observer Patrol (COP) program marked both a professional milestone and a deeply personal moment. Pinned by Pete Young, the ceremony carried emotional weight tied to family legacy and loss.
“It meant so much to me. This is the 10-year anniversary of my brother dying. Pete had hired my brother in ’79. And so, it’s just, my family’s all gone. I have no living survivors. This was my last, and I appreciate that Pete was able to be here for me. I’ve known him 40 odd years,” Dempsey shared.
Her journey into volunteerism reflects both resilience and purpose. “I’ve always felt a strong compulsion to help the community,” said Dempsey. “My father was a police officer, and my brother was a police officer. I wanted to give back. And I thought the best way that I could do it was to be a police officer. Before I became disabled, I tried. Now that I am disabled, this was the best option for me. It brought me full circle back to how I was before I became disabled. I was a Daytona Beach Police emergency communications officer, and now I’m a non-emergency communications dispatcher.”
Her message to others considering volunteering is simple but heartfelt: “It’s a wonderful job, a wonderful position. You get to meet the community, be involved with the community. You get to learn about what’s going on in your community. It is a great way to give back.”
For Sheriff Staly, volunteers like Dempsey are not just helpful—they are essential. “We could not serve the community at the level we do and reduce crime without our volunteers,” he said. “They support so many of the events that we have. People go on vacation, they do home security checks. Deputies just don’t have time to do that if we want to reduce crime. And that’s what their focus is.”
He emphasized the breadth of their contributions, noting the nearly 100 volunteers in the COP program. “They do bicycle patrols, they do marine unit, ATV on the beach. They’re in the courthouse helping at Operations Center. Really the list goes on from there,” he said.
Beyond their immediate impact, Staly believes volunteer programs help shape the future of law enforcement. “I think absolutely it does,” he said when asked about inspiring the next generation. “The kids that were here can see they can volunteer. Maybe they see themselves a career in law enforcement at the sheriff’s office—and it might not just be carrying a gun and a badge, but it could be professional support, like CSI, and a litany of other positions that we have.”
