Two Deputies Earn Promotions From Sheriff Johnson

Date Added: July 02, 2013 10:00 am

July 2, 2013
Brandon Haught
Public Information Office

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office's newest lieutenant brings quite a bit of experience and creativity to her new rank and assignment. Jessica Paugh served several of her nine years with the Sheriff's Office as an investigator, solving everything from burglaries to home invasions. She quickly earned a position in the Major Case unit where her hard work continued to pay off with first degree murder arrests in multiple cases. She was then promoted to sergeant and supervised other investigators while maintaining a hefty caseload of her own. Now she takes the next step in her law enforcement career as Sheriff Ben Johnson presented Paugh with her Lieutenant's badge during a ceremony Tuesday at the Sheriff's Office's Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach. "You worked hard for this," Sheriff Johnson told Paugh in front of a room filled with co-workers and well-wishers. "There are a lot of good years ahead for you."

The 36-year-old started in the Holly Hill Police Department working as a patrol officer and later moving into investigations and a supervisory role as a Corporal. Then in 2004 Paugh was hired by the Sheriff's Office. She once again started out in patrol but soon got back into investigations at district offices in New Smyrna Beach and DeLand. When she moved into the Major Case unit, her impressive professionalism and determination earned her a Medal of Merit that stated, "Investigator Paugh always performs at a level far above what is required and serves as an example of excellence for others to emulate." She was promoted to Sergeant in November 2010 and supervised other investigators at the Deltona district office. Paugh also is a member of the Sheriff's Office's Hostage Negotiation Team and in her spare time is an adjunct professor at a local college. Her new assignment as a Lieutenant will be serving as one of the agency’s two rotating, night-time Watch Commanders.

Sheriff Johnson also named a new Sergeant on Tuesday -- 38-year-old Christopher Jones, who has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 2002. “You are well known as a high energy individual,” said Sheriff Johnson. "It is my honor and privilege to award you your sergeant's badge."