Sheriff Johnson Names New Lieutenant

Date Added: October 27, 2007 1:40 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

A 9-year veteran with the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has earned a new badge and a new assignment. And with her promotion, Michelle Newman becomes the second woman in the agency to currently serve at the rank of lieutenant. Sheriff Ben Johnson presented Newman with her lieutenant’s badge and bar Tuesday morning at the Sheriff’s Office’s Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach. “It’s a great honor to present this to you,” Sheriff Johnson told Newman, noting that she represents the future of the agency. “We have a group coming in that will carry this department to the next level. And you’re part of that group.” 

Born in Jacksonville and raised in Volusia County, the 33-year-old Newman came to the Sheriff’s Office in September 1998 with prior law enforcement experience with the U.S. Air Force Security Police and Stetson University. Her tenure at the Sheriff’s Office has included assignments in judicial services, road patrol and investigations. Newman’s promotion to lieutenant actually took effect in July. However, she went on maternity leave shortly afterwards and just recently returned to active duty. Tuesday was an opportunity for Sheriff Johnson to formally promote Newman in front of friends, family and co-workers. “We know what a great job you can do,” Sheriff Johnson told Newman. 

In her new assignment, Newman is serving as assistant commander of the Sheriff’s Office’s District 2 headquarters in DeLand, making her second-in-command of a law enforcement operation that encompasses much of Northwest Volusia County and includes 34 sworn officers.