Meet the Command Staff

Deputy Chief Kevin Pratt possesses over 24 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Lake Mary Police Department in 1999. Deputy Chief Pratt has held multiple positions throughout his career, such as: Patrol Officer, Criminal Investigations Detective, SWAT Operator, City/County Investigative Bureau Drug Agent and K-9 Handler.  He also held several management level positions including, Patrolman First Class, Patrol Sergeant, Special Operations Sergeant, Patrol Lieutenant and Captain to both Patrol and Criminal Investigations Divisions. In 2003, Deputy Chief Pratt implemented the K-9 Unit and was assigned through 2008.

Deputy Chief Pratt obtained his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with Columbia College. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy – Class 271, Quantico, VA, and the Command Officers Development course - Southern Law Enforcement Institute – Class 63, with the University of Louisville, KY.

Certifications and training courses Deputy Chief Pratt completed include: Executive Leadership Training, Task Force Commander Leadership & Management, Line Supervision & Middle Management, Field Training Officer, Death and Homicide Investigations, Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings, Hate Crime Investigations, Human Trafficking, High Risk Search Warrants, Juvenile Sex Offender and Sex Crime Investigations, Crimes against Children and Domestic Violence Investigations, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Crimes Against the Elderly & Disabled, Narcotics Identification & Investigation, K-9 Patrol Academy & K-9 Narcotics Detection Training, K-9 Unit Supervision Training, Jetway Interdiction & CMV Criminal Interdiction Training, Behavior Recognition & Evading Honesty for Law Enforcement, Behavior-Based Investigative Strategies, Conducting FL Internal Affairs Investigations, Background Investigations for Police Applicants, and other specialty classes.

Captain Dennis Strange possesses over 38 years of law enforcement experience. He spent most of his career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and held positions in divisions such as: Professional Standards, Governmental Affairs, Patrol Commander, Organized Task Force, Criminal Investigations, Tactical Squad and much more. In 2018, he began employment with the Lake Mary Police Department, as a Captain in the Uniform Patrol Division. In 2021, he transferred to the Criminal Investigations Division as Captain overseeing the Criminal Investigations and Community Relations departments.

Captain Strange obtained his master’s degree in Criminal Justice with Southwest University and is a graduate of the Southern Law Enforcement Institute Command Officers Development Course. Certifications and training courses he received are Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Incident Command Systems; Executive/Dignitary Protection, NBA Dignitary Protection, Foreign Diplomats, Government Officials, and other specialty courses.

Lieutenant Joseph Gowen oversees the Patrol Division and possesses over 28 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career in 1993 with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Police Department and held positions as Police Officer and Criminal Investigator. In 2001, he joined the Lake Mary Police Department. Lieutenant Gowen held positions in Special Operations, Criminal Investigations, Training, Community Relations and Patrol Divisions.

Lieutenant Gowen obtained his bachelor’s degree in Law/Justice from Glassboro State College. Lieutenant Gowen is a graduate of the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute Command Officers Development Course-Class 53 and has completed the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy Series.

Certifications and training courses Lieutenant Gowen completed are: Line Supervision, Mid-Level Management, Leadership Innovation Track 1-3, Managing the FTO Program, K-9 Unit Supervision, Traffic Incident Management, Police Liability, FDLE Officer Discipline, Officer Complaint Investigation, Officer Involved Shootings, Detective, General Instructor, Firearms Instructor, P.I.T. Instructor, Field Training Officer, Public Information Officer, Active Shooter, Active Shooter Incident Management with Complex Incidents, Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings, Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents, Juvenile Sex Offender Investigations, Pedophile and Child Abductions and other specialty courses.

Lieutenant William Rodwick oversees the Patrol Division and possesses over 13 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Lake Mary Police Department in 2009. Lieutenant Rodwick held positions in Patrol Operations and the City/County Investigative Bureau as a Drug Agent.

Lieutenant Rodwick attended the University of Central Florida and obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2004 and master’s degree in Criminal Justice in 2005. He completed the Command Officer Development course with Southern Police Institute in 2020. Certifications and training courses Lieutenant Rodwick completed are: Extensive tactical training while serving as a member of the Lake Mary Police Department SWAT Team from 2010 to 2016 and as a member of the Seminole County SWAT Team from 2016 to 2022, High Risk Search Warrant Execution, Dangerous Drug and Narcotic Identification, Basic and Advanced SWAT Courses, Manual and Shotgun Breaching, Field Training Officer, Instructor Techniques, Line Supervision, Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings, Prevention and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents, and other specialty courses. Lieutenant Rodwick is a certified instructor for Firearms, Taser, and Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training.

Lieutenant Matthew Schaefer possesses over 19 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Lake Mary Police Department in 2004. He has held multiple positions throughout his career, such as: Patrol Officer, Assistant Squad Leader, Criminal Investigations Detective, Patrol Sergeant, and Criminal Investigations & Community Relations Sergeant. In early 2023, he was promoted to Lieutenant over the Criminal Investigations & Community Relations Divisions. Lieutenant Schaefer has been an Adjunct Professor with Seminole State College since 2016. Areas he instructs include: FDLE Criminal Justice courses, Basic Law Enforcement and Corrections Crossover Academies.

During his career, Lieutenant Schaefer has obtained several certifications such as: FDLE High Liabilities Instructor (Firearms/First Aid), Glock/M-4/Remington 870 Armorer, Force on Force Simunitions Instructor, Less Lethal/Impact Weapons Instructor, Active Shooter/SAVE Instructor and is also a Certified Voice Stress Analysis Examiner for the agency.

Lieutenant Schaefer obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Beloit College in May 1998. Lieutenant Schaefer is also graduate of the University of Louisville Southern Police Institute Command Officer’s Development Course-Class #80.