Sheriff Johnson Promotes New Major

Date Added: August 05, 2014 2:00 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Office

With promotion comes added responsibility. 

Chico Mandizha got a full dose of both on Tuesday when Sheriff Ben Johnson promoted the 23-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office to the rank of major. Mandizha now becomes one of the Sheriff’s Office’s three majors, each commanding one of the agency’s three operating divisions. “You’ve earned this,” Sheriff Johnson told Mandizha as he handed him his major’s badge Tuesday morning in front of a large crowd of family and co-workers gathered at the Sheriff’s Office’s Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach. “You’ve worked hard for this and I’m very proud for you. Just know that it comes with a lot of responsibility.” 

Mandizha has risen up through the ranks since joining the Sheriff’s Office in October 1991, earning promotion to sergeant in 2000, lieutenant in 2004 and captain in 2008. His assignments have run the gamut, from patrol, motors and judicial services to communications and assistant district commander of the Sheriff’s Office’s Deltona operations. He has spent the last five years as the executive officer and second-in-command of the agency’s Law Enforcement Services Division. In his new assignment, Mandizha will command the Judicial Services Division, which includes court security, prisoner transport, central records and the civil section. 

Among those on hand at Tuesday’s promotion ceremony were Mandizha’s wife and their four children. Mandizha was born in Providence, RI, but grew up in Kenya before returning to the United States after graduating from high school. He’s 46-year-old and has a Bachelor’s Degree in organizational management from Warner Southern College. Before joining the Sheriff’s Office, Mandizha worked for the Daytona Beach Police Department for three years. 

Tuesday’s promotion was prompted by the impending retirement of the current Judicial Services Division commander, Major Rocky Norris, who will be stepping down on Aug. 31 after a 28-year career with the Sheriff’s Office.