Perez of Sheriff’s Office wins International Association of Chiefs of Police recognition

Community affairs director named one of 2022 IACP/T-Mobile 40 under 40 honorees

Kaitlyn Perez, director of community affairs for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, has been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) as a 2022 IACP/T-Mobile 40 Under 40 honoree, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman announced this week.

“The annual award recognizes law enforcement professionals from around the world who demonstrate leadership, exemplify commitment to their profession, and have a positive impact on their communities and the field of policing,” a Sheriff’s Office news release says. “Perez is one of two honorees from the state of Florida,” it points out. She “is joined by other law enforcement professionals from across the globe,” including individuals from Canada, Dubai and Australia, the release points out.

“Recognized for her contributions in 2021, Perez helped lead the agency’s strategic planning process, launch the organization’s 10-8 TV social media series, and manage an agencywide recruitment project,” the release notes. She “also created several campaigns related to how the agency serves vulnerable populations and responds to calls for service involving mental health,” the release adds.

Last year, “Perez volunteered to take on the mission to help a family that was trapped in Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover,” the release continues. “A sheriff’s deputy born in Afghanistan who formerly served as a combat linguist had family members whose lives were in danger due to his work with U.S. troops,” the release explains. Thanks to Perez’s support the release adds, “32 members of the deputy’s family made it safely to the U.S., where they gained permanent housing and jobs, and all the children were enrolled in school, likely leading to a long-term generational impact on the family.”

Perez also serves on the board of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto counties, the release notes. She is a graduate of Saint Leo University’s 23rd Command Officer Management Program and, in 2021, was named a 40 Under 40 Leader by the Business Observer, the release says.

“Perez’s passions lie in supporting Sarasota County’s youth and connecting citizens with the law enforcement professionals who serve them,” the release adds. She joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2014 as a media relations specialist and was promoted in 2016 to community affairs director, in which capacity “she serves as a member of Sheriff Hoffman’s senior staff and leads a team of four creative communications professionals,” the release notes.

“Now more than ever in our profession, law enforcement agencies must develop meaningful relationships with the communities they serve,” said Hoffman in the release. “Director Perez’s work to connect the men and women of our agency to the citizens we serve plays a vital role in our future success,” he added. “Through her efforts, she has advanced our mission of professional policing and community outreach, and I am extremely pleased that the IACP has recognized her hard work with this award.”

Learn more about the 2022 IACP/T-Mobile 40 Under 40 award by following this link: https://bit.ly/3D5LNvF.