Meet the Command Staff

Chief Kevin Pratt possesses over 26 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Lake Mary Police Department in 1999. 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.

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 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.

Deputy Chief Dennis Strange possesses over 40 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 overseeing the Criminal Investigations and Community Relations departments and in April 2024, he was promoted to Deputy Chief of Police. 

Deputy Chief 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.

Captain William Rodwick possesses over 16 years of law enforcement experience. He began his career with the Lake Mary Police Department in 2009. Captain Rodwick held positions in Patrol Operations and the City/County Investigative Bureau as a Drug Agent.

Captain 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 Captain 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. Captain Rodwick is a certified instructor for Firearms, Taser, and Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training.

Lieutenant Joseph Gowen possesses over 32 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.

Lt. Robert Judges has over 16 years of law enforcement experience.  Lt. Judges began his law enforcement career, in 2009, with the Casselberry Police Department. While at the Casselberry Police Department, he served as a Patrol Officer, Traffic Officer, and Police Corporal.  In July of 2017, Lt. Judges joined the Lake Mary Police Department.  Throughout his career with the Lake Mary Police Department, Lt. Judges has served as a Patrol Officer, Community Relations Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant, Training/Community Relations Sergeant, Criminal Investigations Division Sergeant, and in early 2024, he was promoted to Lieutenant. In addition to his service with the police department, Lt. Judges was an operator on the Seminole County Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) Team from April 2014 to February 2024. While on the team, Lt. Judges served on several missions to include hostage rescue, barricaded criminals, search warrants, dignitary protection, and special security events throughout the region. 

During his career, Lt. Judges has completed several advised training courses and instructs on various subjects to include firearms, defensive tactics, active assailant, less-lethal munitions, use of force, and unified command.  In 2022, Lt. Judges completed the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Trilogy, and in 2023, he graduated from the Southern Police Institute Command Officers Development Course – Class 91, with the University of Louisville, KY.

 Lt. Judges obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology from the University of Florida in May 2007.

Lieutenant Andrew Watts has over 30 years of experience in the criminal justice field. He began his career in 1995 with the Florida Department of Corrections as a Correctional Probation Officer. In 1997, he transitioned to law enforcement, working as a Police Officer for the City of Largo. In 1999, he moved to Central Florida and joined the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, where he held a variety of positions, including Patrol Deputy, Investigator in Economic and Computer Crimes and Major Crimes, Patrol Sergeant, CCIB Sergeant, and Domestic Security Sergeant. He also served on the Crisis Negotiation Team, where he completed his tenure as the Executive Officer.

Following his time with the Sheriff’s Office, Lieutenant Watts joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), where he worked as a Special Agent in various areas such as Violent Crime, Public Integrity, and Electronic Surveillance Support. He later became a Special Agent Supervisor, overseeing investigations related to Public Integrity, Targeted Violence, and Public Corruption. During his time at FDLE, he contributed to several notable cases and was recognized for his work with colleagues as part of distinguished teams in 2013 and 2016.

Lieutenant Watts holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology from Florida State University and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. He is a graduate of the Command Officers Development Course, the Florida Leadership Academy, and the FDLE Advanced Leadership Program, and has certifications as a Firearms and First Aid Instructor as well as a FLETC Tactical Medical Instructor.