Sergeant Scott Baker, Captain David Scott, Major Brian Meinberg, Sergeant Diana Darby, Senior Assistant General Counsel Crystal Bailey and Sheriff Tom Knight.
Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight is pleased to announce the promotion of five Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office members.
Deputy Scott Baker is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Baker began his law enforcement career in 1996 in Indiana after being honorably discharged from the Indiana Army National Guard. Baker joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in 2001 and joined the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office the following year. Throughout his career, Baker worked in the Patrol Bureau, the Tactical Unit, and Crime Stoppers.
Detective Diana Darby is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Darby’s career began in 2005 as a patrol deputy where she served as a Field Training Officer and later worked as a School Resource Deputy and eventually as a detective assigned to the Criminal Investigations Section. Darby holds her bachelor’s degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida and has advanced certificates in Crisis Intervention, Interview and Interrogations, Criminal Law, and Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.
Assistant General Counsel Crystal Bailey is promoted to Senior Assistant General Counsel. Bailey earned her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications from Miami University in 2004 and her Juris Doctorate degree from Stetson College of Law in 2009. Bailey worked as an Assistant State Attorney in the 6th Judicial Circuit handling all levels of offenses, grand jury indictments, and was part of the Gang Prosecution Unit. She was hired in 2014 by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and is a current member of the Sarasota County Bar Association and Florida Association of Police Attorneys.
Lieutenant David Scott is promoted to the rank of Captain assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Scott began his law enforcement career in 1994 when he was hired as a corrections deputy. In 1997, Scott transferred to the Patrol Bureau and continued to serve in Community Policing, Criminal Investigations, and Youth Services. In 2010, Scott promoted to the rank of Sergeant and soon transferred to the Tactical Unit where he earned a Unit Citation for his work during Operation Booster Buster. In 2013, Scott was promoted to Lieutenant and served again in the Patrol Bureau, Intelligence, and Youth Services sections. Throughout his career, Scott was recognized as co-Deputy of the Year and earned his master’s degree in Criminology from the University of South Florida. In 2015, Scott graduated from the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer Development Course.
Captain Brian Meinberg is promoted to the rank of Major and will oversee the Courts and Corrections Division. Meinberg began his law enforcement career in 2004 when he was hired as a corrections deputy. He quickly elevated through the ranks in the Corrections Bureau and promoted to Captain in 2014. Throughout his career, Meinberg served as the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinator for the 2012 Republican National Convention, became a certified Florida Model Jail Inspector, CERT Commander, Probation Advisory Board member, Florida Sheriff’s Association Commander’s Academy Treasurer, and graduated from the Southern Police Institute’s Commander Officer Development Course. Meinberg holds his master’s degree in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University and is currently working towards earning his law enforcement certification from Suncoast Technical College.
“This is a very important day for the sheriff’s office,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “These men and women have shown their commitment to service and to the citizens of Sarasota County, and it is my pleasure to support them as they take the next step in their careers. Through continued leadership training and best practices, I have no doubt these individuals will be equipped with the knowledge they need to perform at the highest level.”