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Plant City civic leaders and law enforcement officials joined friends and families of Luz Alonso and Heather Snell as they were sworn in last Friday afternoon as patrol officers with the Plant City Police Department (PCPD).
The ceremony saw dozens of people present at the Michael S. Sparkman Police Center. Among those present were Mayor Nate Kilton, City Manager Bill McDaniel and Commissioners Jason Jones and Mary Mathis.
During the ceremony, the officers recited the following oath: On my honor, I will never betray my integrity, my character or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always maintain the highest ethical standards and uphold the values of my community, and the agency I serve.
“This is a big day in their career where hopefully they will offer a lifetime of service to the community,” said McDaniel, whose own career in law enforcement spans 28 years, 16 of them as police chief.
Alonso’s father, Jose Alonso, pinned the badge her uniform. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s (HCSO) officer didn’t dissuade his daughter from her career choice and couldn’t be happier she’s following in his footsteps. “I knew this was something she always wanted to do and I want her to grow as a fair and just officer and become a leader in her field,” he said. “I want her to inspire other women.”
Officer Snell, who worked at HCSO in a civilian role as a community service aide, graduated from the Law Enforcement Training Academy at Hillsborough Community College in 2019. She learned about PCPD from other students in the academy and looks forward to her future with the department. “I just want to be a good officer and that’s it,” she said. “I want to be able to help people.”
Snell is originally from Troy, Alabama. She worked as a corrections officer in Pensacola for two years before moving to St. Petersburg, where she worked for its police department. After six months, she started missing Alabama and her small-town roots. She decided to apply at PCPD after a visit to Keel and Curley Winery.
“I was thinking this feels just like where I used to live, like home,” she said.
Snell, who graduated from the police academy in April 2022, looks forward to her training. “I’m just excited to be learning the job, the training is really preparing me and I look forward to serving the people of Plant City,” she said.
The new officers will now begin their 16-week Field Training Program, where they will ride with senior officers and learn how to become police officers for the City of Plant City.
“It’s an awesome day when we can bring people into the law enforcement family,” said Police Chief James Bradford.
PCPD, comprised of a force of 75 officers, is not fully staffed and is seeking applicants to fill its five open positions. Applications can be found at www.planctcitygov.com.
“Whether you have no experience in law enforcement, are a certified corrections officer or are a certified officer in another state, sponsorships are available to pay your way through the appropriate training program,” he said. “I’m looking for people that want to serve others and make a difference.”
