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Two police officers earn honor

A man who helps children and another who investigates homicides win the Ned March award.

By JON WILSON
Published January 30, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - Terrell Skinner is a homicide detective who says he likes to put the bad guys in jail. Joe DeLuca investigates crimes against children, hoping to break the cycle of abuse that can run through families.

The veteran St. Petersburg police officers have been named the 2004 winners of the Ned March award, given annually to officers who have consistently performed at high levels, often for years.

Winners are nominated by their immediate supervisors. Top Police Department leaders make the final selections. E.L. "Ned" March, a Rotary Club member with an interest in police work, established the award in 1952.

Both DeLuca and Skinner received glowing recommendations from their supervisors.

DeLuca, said Sgt. Joanne Lindsay, gets so involved in his investigations, trying to steer them toward prosecution, that he skips days off.

"I often have to tell Det. DeLuca to take a vacation day due to his often maxing out on his vacation time," Lindsay wrote in her nomination memo.

DeLuca, 43, is originally from Detroit. He joined the St. Petersburg Police Department in 1986 and served for years as a field training officer before transferring to a detective job in what was then called the career criminal unit. He joined the crimes against children unit in 2000.

It's a tough job, veteran officers say, that requires tenacity and a talent for communicating with youngsters who often harbor terrible secrets.

But it has its rewards, DeLuca said.

"Children victims, there's no one there to help them. They're helpless," he said.

"It's very meaningful when you can put someone in jail who's taken away something from a child they can't get back. It ruins their lives. It's good to catch it early when we can can, and hopefully break the cycle" of abuse, he said.

Skinner, 38, is a 16-year veteran of the force. He has "established a flawless record of dedicated service to the community and a reputation of undisputed professionalism," wrote homicide sergeant Mike Puetz.

Formerly a Coquina Key community police officer, Skinner joined the homicide squad in 2003. He has worked, or helped work, about 20 cases since then, he said.

Puetz said Skinner has a talent for persuasion and unearthing leads.

"It is unusual for Det. Skinner to make contacts in a neighborhood and not extract some piece of significant information on a case," Puetz wrote in nominating Skinner.

Skinner, a St. Petersburg native, said he became interested in police work about the time he graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1985. A couple of uncles who worked at the Sheriff's Office fueled his interest.

"I was always intrigued with seeing the officers and with watching the cop shows growing up," Skinner said. Columbo, Kojak and Adam 12 were among his favorites.

"I always wanted to be one of the good guys," he said.

[Last modified January 30, 2005, 00:10:19]