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Police command staff takes shape
By ANNE LINDBERG © St. Petersburg Times, published April 15, 2001 PINELLAS PARK -- Six months after being named the permanent chief, Dorene Thomas has named her command staff. Members of that staff will replace Capts. Mike Vetter, who retired this year, and Robert Hempel. The details of his departure are being kept secret. Hempel had been under an investigation by the city and the Pinellas County sheriff for allegations that he'd used his privately owned computer on city time and for city business. Hempel has received a temporary injunction blocking release of the investigative findings and the Pinellas Park city attorney deems that details of Hempel's departure are covered by that injunction. A hearing will be held next month to determine whether that injunction will become permanent. In making her promotions, Thomas chose officers with many years' experience in Pinellas Park. The department's new second in command will be John Green, a 14-year department veteran. Green, 52, had been named acting captain in February. Last week's promotions made that a permanent rank. Green began his police career in 1971 in New Mexico and began working for Pinellas Park in 1980. He was first assigned to patrol and later the traffic unit where he was a homicide investigator. He was the 1982 Pinellas Park Police Officer of the Year. Green was promoted to sergeant in 1983 but left the agency for a short time in 1986 to move to Colorado. He returned to Pinellas Park in 1987 and soon regained his sergeant's stripes. Green was promoted to lieutenant in 1997. Green is now the SWAT commander, a radar and laser instructor and a police academy instructor. Green has a bachelor's degree in psychology and attended the Florida Institute of Government Training and the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. Also promoted to captain was Michael Haworth, 39, who has worked for the Pinellas Park department for 10 years. The promotion makes him the third-ranking officer in the department. Haworth served in the Air Force and was a juvenile probation officer before becoming a Pinellas Park officer in 1990. Haworth has supervised patrol, vice and narcotics, and has served as an acting lieutenant since September. Haworth's duties as a captain will include recruitment, internal affairs and the supervision of all special services sections. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Troy State University. He was the 1995 Officer of the Year. Also promoted was Sanfield "Sandy" Forseth to acting lieutenant. His duties will include the supervision of all patrol operations. He will continue his duties as the police department spokesman and public information officer. Forseth, 40, has worked for Pinellas Park since 1983. He has served as a patrol officer, a field training officer, a canine handler, planning and research officer, a patrol supervisor and a records supervisor. Forseth has a bachelor's degree from Florida State University and a master's degree from the University of South Florida. William Lowe was promoted to the rank of sergeant. Lowe, 41, joined the department in 1983. He has served as a field training officer, a firearms instructor, a traffic officer, and most recently as a detective. Lowe has been an adviser for the police department Explorers and has taken them to several national competitions. Lowe also has been involved in the multiagency gang task force helping other departments with police protection and intelligence to help maintain safety at fairs and festivals. He also designed the police patch that all Pinellas Park officers wear.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
