Sheriff's Office Promotions

NEWS RELEASE 19-067 - APRIL 18, 2019
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Sheriff Tom Knight, Lieutenant Paul Cernansky, Captain Dan Tutko, Sergeant Jason Friday, and Colonel Kurt A. Hoffman. 

Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight is pleased to announce the promotion of three Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office members.
 
Detective Jason Friday is promoted to the rank of Sergeant assigned to the Patrol Bureau. Friday began his law enforcement career in 2005 with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office before joining Sarasota County as a patrol deputy in 2007. He became a detective in 2011, transferring to Criminal Investigations. Friday was awarded Deputy of the Year in 2015 and was nominated four times for Employee of the Month. He was recognized as the Florida Retail Federation Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2015 and received the 16th Congressional Law Enforcement Award for Dedication and Professionalism in 2016. Friday is a member of the U.S. Secret Service Financial Investigation Strike Team and is trained in several areas including Advanced Traffic Crashes, Traffic Homicides, Financial Fraud, as well as Injury and Death Investigations. He earned his associate’s degree from Santa Fe Community College and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.
 
Sergeant Paul Cernansky is promoted to the rank of Lieutenant assigned to the Law Enforcement Division. Cernansky joined the sheriff’s office in 2004 when he obtained his certification and was assigned to the Patrol Bureau. In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred from Patrol to the Tactical Unit. After graduating from the FBI-LEEDA’s 286th Supervisor Leadership Institute in 2017, Cernansky transferred to Special Operations overseeing the Siesta Key and Mounted Patrol Units. He has taken several advanced courses including Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Detection, Surveillance Techniques, Taser Instruction, Defensive Tactics Instruction, Sex Crimes Investigations, and more. Cernansky earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Central Florida.
 
Lieutenant Dan Tutko is promoted to the rank of Captain assigned to the Courts and Corrections Division. Tutko began his law enforcement career at the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in 1995. Since joining the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office in 1998, he has worked in various areas including Patrol, Community Policing, Animal Services, and Special and Criminal Investigations. Tutko was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2006 and to the rank of Lieutenant in 2014. He played significant roles as a supervisor to both the Tactical Unit and Animal Services Section. Tutko is a graduate of both the FBI LEEDA’s Command and Executive Leadership Institutes, the Southern Police Institute’s Command Officer Development Course, and the sheriff’s office leadership academy. Tutko has received several awards and recognitions throughout his career to include two Unit Citations and the Legion of Honor. He earned his associate’s degree from Manatee Community College and his bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida.
 
“This is a very exciting day for the sheriff’s office,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “These three members are an exceptional representation of our agency and of the law enforcement community. I am certain they will continue to be excellent leaders for their colleagues and their community.”