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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING MAJOR THORNTON
______
HON. BILL POSEY
of florida
in the house of representatives
Monday, January 27, 2020
Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I
rise today in recognition of Major Milo Thornton, an exemplary
constituent of mine and African American Pioneer who bas served our
community for 23 years in law enforcement.
Major Thornton began his career in 1997, as a correctional deputy
with Saint Lucie County's Sheriff Office, under the leadership of the
now retired Sheriff Robert ``Bobby'' Knowles. After a year and a half
tenure, he became a patrolman with the Vero Beach Police Department.
Major Thornton quickly rose through the ranks, being hired by Sheriff
Roy Raymond at Indian River County Sheriff's Office four years later,
becoming sergeant in 2012, receiving assignment to uniform patrol, and
in 2016 being promoted to lieutenant, where he was reassigned to
criminal investigations. In this role, he was afforded the opportunity
to attend advanced training courses that would prepare him for the rest
of his career. He worked closely with general assignment detectives,
the narcotics division and criminal analysts to get to the bottom of
various criminal investigations.
In 2017, Sheriff Deryl Loar promoted Major Thornton to the rank of
captain, reassigning him to the Uniforms Operations Division in which
he oversaw the operations of all men and women who patrol the county,
special operations, including the K9 Unit, Traffic Unit, Agriculture
and Marine Unit, among many others. Additionally, he worked with
dispatchers in the Communications Unit and the Victims Assistance Unit.
In 2019 he was again promoted, this time to rank of major, where he
was to serve in the Bureau of Administration. In this position, he
managed aspects of human resources, information technology, homeland
security, Judicial Services, and the School Resource Unit, just to name
a few.
Major Thornton also serves our community in many capacities outside
of his day job, one of which, as an adjunct instructor at Indian River
State College, his alma mater where he earned his Associates and
Bachelor's degrees. He has worked within their College of Public Safety
Training for 14 years now, teaching subjects such as Introduction to
Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, and Interviewing and Report
Writing.
Major Thornton is a member of the International Associations of
Chiefs of Police, a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's Command
Officers Development Course (class No. 80) at the University of
Louisville, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Leadership
Academy (class No. 28). In his free time, Major Thornton serves as
volunteer board member of several charities and non-profit
organizations.
On Tuesday, February 18, 2020 in celebration of Black History Month,
the Indian River County Board of Commissioners will honor Major
Thornton's longstanding service to the community. The Board is
dedicated to celebrating African American Pioneers in the community
such as Major Thornton, who have paved the way for future generations.
I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me
in recognizing Major Thornton for his dedication to protecting
residents and his service to our community.
____________________