NEWS RELEASE 26-019 - APRIL 9, 2026
Pictured left to right: Court Services Sergeant Carl Severs, Corrections Sergeant Kristine Bilhardt, Corrections Sergeant Aleksandra Yefremova, and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is proud to announce the promotion of three sheriff’s office members during a ceremony held on Thursday.
Court Services Deputy Carl Severs was promoted to sergeant assigned to Court Services Bureau. Severs started his career as a police officer at the Bradenton Police Department in August 2013. The next year he was hired into a law enforcement position with the New College Police Department. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) then hired Severs as a court services deputy in 2016. He later became a Field Training Deputy training newly hired court services deputies. Severs was nominated three times for employee of the month and was twice nominated for Courts and Corrections Deputy of the Year. In September of 2019, he was awarded the agency’s Life Saving Award, when he took action to save a choking coworker. Severs possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science from Rowan University.
Corrections Deputy Kristine Bilhardt was promoted to corrections sergeant. She began her career with SCSO in 2016 as a booking technician. Two years later, she attended the Suncoast Technical College Criminal Justice Academy earning her law enforcement certification later becoming a sworn corrections deputy, assigned to corrections operations. She transferred from corrections operations to corrections services, working in the booking and intake unit in 2020. Most recently, she served as a Corrections Field Training Coordinator, where she supported both the corrections field training deputy program and corrections academy. Bilhardt has been nominated four times for Courts and Corrections Division Employee of the Month and received the award in May of 2023. She was also nominated for the 2024 Courts and Corrections Deputy of the Year. She is a certified breath test operator and holds an Associate of Arts from Florida Southwestern State College.
Corrections Deputy Aleksandra Yefremova was promoted to corrections sergeant. Yefremova was hired by SCSO in October of 2019 as a booking/classification specialist. She later attended the Suncoast Technical College Criminal Justice Academy earning her law enforcement certification. In September 2020, she was sworn in as a corrections deputy, assigned to corrections operations. She received a unit citation as a member of inmate classification unit and was awarded a Life Saving Award for assisting in clearing the airway obstruction of an inmate at our correctional facility. Yefremova holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, both from the University of South Florida.
“Promotions are a reflection of dedication and growth,” said Sheriff Hoffman. “These individuals have done what it takes to achieve the next level of service within our agency, and it encourages us all to keep giving our all for the Sarasota community.”
Pictured left to right: Court Services Sergeant Carl Severs, Corrections Sergeant Kristine Bilhardt, Corrections Sergeant Aleksandra Yefremova, and Sheriff Kurt A. HoffmanSarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is proud to announce the promotion of three sheriff’s office members during a ceremony held on Thursday.
Court Services Deputy Carl Severs was promoted to sergeant assigned to Court Services Bureau. Severs started his career as a police officer at the Bradenton Police Department in August 2013. The next year he was hired into a law enforcement position with the New College Police Department. The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) then hired Severs as a court services deputy in 2016. He later became a Field Training Deputy training newly hired court services deputies. Severs was nominated three times for employee of the month and was twice nominated for Courts and Corrections Deputy of the Year. In September of 2019, he was awarded the agency’s Life Saving Award, when he took action to save a choking coworker. Severs possesses a Bachelor of Arts in Health Science from Rowan University.
Corrections Deputy Kristine Bilhardt was promoted to corrections sergeant. She began her career with SCSO in 2016 as a booking technician. Two years later, she attended the Suncoast Technical College Criminal Justice Academy earning her law enforcement certification later becoming a sworn corrections deputy, assigned to corrections operations. She transferred from corrections operations to corrections services, working in the booking and intake unit in 2020. Most recently, she served as a Corrections Field Training Coordinator, where she supported both the corrections field training deputy program and corrections academy. Bilhardt has been nominated four times for Courts and Corrections Division Employee of the Month and received the award in May of 2023. She was also nominated for the 2024 Courts and Corrections Deputy of the Year. She is a certified breath test operator and holds an Associate of Arts from Florida Southwestern State College.
Corrections Deputy Aleksandra Yefremova was promoted to corrections sergeant. Yefremova was hired by SCSO in October of 2019 as a booking/classification specialist. She later attended the Suncoast Technical College Criminal Justice Academy earning her law enforcement certification. In September 2020, she was sworn in as a corrections deputy, assigned to corrections operations. She received a unit citation as a member of inmate classification unit and was awarded a Life Saving Award for assisting in clearing the airway obstruction of an inmate at our correctional facility. Yefremova holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and a Master of Arts in Criminal Justice, both from the University of South Florida.
“Promotions are a reflection of dedication and growth,” said Sheriff Hoffman. “These individuals have done what it takes to achieve the next level of service within our agency, and it encourages us all to keep giving our all for the Sarasota community.”