Benton Is Shifting Positions At Sheriff's Dept.

In an effort to foster a "healthy organization," the Highlands County Sheriff's Office has transferred some members of its staff to new duties.

"You have to raise a healthy organization and constantly prepare for the future," Sheriff Susan Benton said. "If folks stay in the same jobs forever, you really are not doing the organization any good. People need to know how to do other jobs within the organization."

Sgt. Kenny Pendarvis, for example, was transferred from squad sergeant to classifications, where he will deal with identifying inmates.

Benton said the transfers do not affect the staff members' pay or rank.

Patrol Division Captain Paul Blackman said a change in his unit is the transfer of Sgt. John Barcinas from patrol to the role of school resource officer (SRO).

The present SRO supervisor, Sgt. Monica Sauls, who has held that particular post for four years, will train Barcinas on the specifics of the assignment.

"We're kind of flipping those roles and we're bringing in a more broadly experienced uniform patrol sergeant who has school resource experience, but also has investigative experience, patrol experience and supervisory experience to kind of balance out that unit's prevention and enforcement elements," Benton said.

Major Mark Schrader added that Sauls has never been a road patrol supervisor.

"She lacks that element of the experience, so that's pretty much the change there," Benton said.

Captain Jeff Barfield said the importance of transferring staff to different responsibilities is to ensure the various departments have "backup personnel."

"I think part of our obligation as administration is to train people to replace us," he said.

Another of the transfers was moving a bailiff to the investigations division.

"His only sole function is the continual tracking of the sex offenders and predators," Benton said.

Besides keeping the organization healthy, Schrader said the transfers can also make deputies looking to advance become more marketable.

"If someone wants to get promoted from a sergeant to a lieutenant (or) captain, the CEO wants them to be well rounded," he said.