U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Votel Gives High Marks to Sheriff Gee’s Luncheon for 'Double-Duty' Officers

Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee hosted the men and women who wear two uniforms at an appreciation luncheon that was the first of its kind in department history.

But it’s not the first time, or even the hundredth time, that Gee has set the tone for acceptance and admiration for the “double-duty” officer, according to many of the honorees in attendance and their family members.

“The sheriff is very supportive of the military,” said Carolyn Hyatt, who with her husband, William, a sheriff’s deputy and and Army National Guardsman, attended the March 15 luncheon with their 21-month-old toddler, Aubrey.

“When [William] was deployed in Afghanistan, Sheriff Gee held a ceremony where they called us up and put ribbons on us,” as spouses, Carolyn Hyatt said. “And he sent somebody to our home to personally invite me. I’ll never forget that.”

Indeed, it is that attention to supportive detail that moved U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joseph L. Votel, of the Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, to stress the importance of employer support to the men and women who serve on active duty and as military reservists.

“It speaks very highly of the organization that would take the time to do this and do it in such a high standard,” Votel said as he waited on a buffet line to collect his meal. “It sends an unambiguous message that says, ‘We’re glad you did this.’ "

The luncheon was billed as a way to appreciate deputies and civilians who have served, or are serving, as active duty or reservists in the nation’s military.

“Sixty-five of our deputies and detectives and five of our civilian employees this past year had to change uniforms to serve our nation,” Gee said in his luncheon remarks.

“We appreciate you,” Gee said in closing, “and we love you."

“Members of the military and members of law enforcement share a common bond,” Votel said in his remarks. “We are all serving our fellow citizens. Those who choose to wear the uniform have an inherent desire to make a difference.”

Patrol Officer Jayson Noble serves also in the Army Reserve.

“To me it’s kind of the norm,” he said about his dual roles. “I went into the Army right out of high school and I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement."

Noble served in Iraq last year and also as a drill sergeant at Fort Jackson in South Carolina.

“The sheriff has always been very supportive of me,” Noble added. “I’ve been called up twice. Not all reservists have employers who are as supportive and willing to go the extra mile for you.”

Detention deputies Ayanna Salmon and her sister, Tanya Pye, also attended the luncheon. Pye served in the military; Salmon serves in the Air Force Reserve.

“It’s good that that the sheriff’s office understands how the military can be demanding,” Salmon said. “They understand that you have to drill with your unit once a month. They understand that when we get deployed we have to go."

Detective Geoffrey Maze attended the luncheon with his three sons, Geoffrey, Micaiah and Dorian. He serves, too, with the Air Force Reserve.

“I woke up one day and it just happened that way,” he said. “When I was 17, in 1987, that’s when I figured I wanted to join the military. Then in 1992 is when I decided I wanted to do law enforcement."

His favorite part?

“The structure,” Maze said. “There’s a chain of command and everyone knows their job.”

“Law enforcement and the military is not for everyone,” he added. “It just has to be in your heart."

ARMY

• Jessica D. Berendt
• Jesse M. Blanco
• Jeffrey L. Braddock
• Richard D. Burton
• Jose J. Casillas
• Rosmelynn Castillo
• Daniel A. Cortes Castro
• Pedro M. Cortes
• Stephen R. Crowe
• Henry Echenique
• Juibeth Fortes Rodriguez
• David M. Freeman
• Lawrence B. Goodman
• Jason P. Haynes
• Craig D. Henson
• Brian P. Hernandez
• Edgar A. Hernandez
• Lauren D. Holley
• William R. Hyatt
• Jamey E. Ketler
• Craig L. Lacounte
• Keith J. Lee
• Nicholas R. Matos
• Joseph H. Maurer
• James A. McDaniel
• James J. Meyer
• Daniel J. Myrick
• Marcus E. Newman
• Anibal Nieves
• Jayson D. Noble
• Philip L. Orrico
• Peter G. Palm
• Jasen A. Pask
• Gregory J. Peake
• Javier D. Perez-Feliciano
• Joel D. Ryals
• William J. Scobie
• Clint T. Sublette
• Kevin T. Thayer
• Arthur Tokarski
• Dario A. Vasquez
• Robert A. Wilson

NAVY

• Carl B. Hassell
• James C. Howell
• Claudio Juarez
• Gary S. Maury
• Sidney R. McFarlane Jr.
• Sean P. Sadler
• Melissa A. Wilson
• Robert A. Wilson

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

• Joshua S. Leighly
• Richard L. Livernois
• Christopher L. Maddaloni
• Geoffrey D. Maze
• Anthony J. Osborne
• Christopher Powell
• Robert J. Przybysz
• Ayanna T. Salmon
• Derrick M. Shea

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

• Gabriel G. Aquino
• Miguel A. Galarza
• Darrel J. Kandil
• John W. Litscher
• Carolann S. Mullins
• Marc J. Purvis

UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

• Dean T. Greene
• Billy J. Kruthers
• Joseph A. Olivero
• Tyler A. Paladini
• Kiel J. Varga
• Richard A. Wester