Florida LEGAL - About Us

President: Michael Barron

mbarron2@aol.com

Sgt. Michael G Barron began his Law Enforcement Career in 1998 in corrections with Monroe County Sheriffs Department, later moving to Airport Security with MCSO at the Key West International Airport with a duel certification in Law Enforcement and Corrections. Now in Brooksville Florida, Michael is an Instructor with DOC, a member of the RRT Team (Rapid Response Team), FTO, and has various certifications in Law Enforcement, including K-9, Intense Weapons, Physical Training Instruction as well as Gang Groups, and Drug Identifiers. He is currently based at Hernando and Sumter Correctional Institutions. Michael was Director at Large for Florida Legal from 1999- 2003 before becoming president.

Vice President: Carroll Hunter

prydeguy@verizon.net

Carroll attended Lehman College in New York with a major in Black Studies, and completed his junior year at the University Of East Africa in Nairobi Kenya, later earning his Masters in guidance and counseling at Hunter College. In 1979 he was recruited to join the New York City Department of Corrections to provide counseling services to inmates on Rikers Island. In his years at that agency he climbed the ranks and became Deputy Director of Counseling Services. Providing a full range of rehabilitation/counseling services to twenty thousand inmates in seventeen jails and supervised a staff of one hundred and twenty counselors.

Since retiring, Carroll has worked to establish GLBT law enforcement fraternal organizations here in the United States and around the world.

Secretary/Treasurer: Charles Slebodnick

kwsle13@bellsouth.net

Charles began working in law enforcement in 1998 with the Monroe County Sheriff Office in the Florida Keys. He graduated from the Correctional Academy at the Florida Keys Community College of Criminal Justice. I started his career at The Monroe County Detention Facility in Key West, later transferring to the Transportation Department at the Monroe County Courthouse. He now works at the Human Resources Division as a Background Investigator.

Director at Large: Thomas Woodard

gaytorcop@aol.com

Tom started his career in 1982 with the Dundee, FL Police Department as a Dispatcher. While working there he put himself through the Police Academy. In 1984 he was hired by the Orange County Sheriff's Office in the Communications Division, and as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff, Working Road Patrol, cross training with K-9 and as a Flight Observer with the Aviation Unit, and in 1988 was promoted to full time Deputy Sheriff.

In 1989 he was fired after the agency learned of his alternative life style. He sued the Sheriff's Office in a very public, nationally televised trial. After a 3 year battle, was vindicated, and immediately reinstated.

Since then, he has become a Field Training Deputy, crossed trained in the Forensics Unit, was promoted to Deputy Sheriff First Class and Master Deputy Sheriff. Six years ago, Tom transferred to the Court Security Division.

Follow Us!

Meet Our Newest Members

Sean & John

Sean is originally from the Detroit, MI area. He entered the USAF in 1988 and graduated the Air Force Academy becoming a member of "Security Forces", being promoted up to the rank of "E6". Between 2004 and 2005, he was deployed twice to Baghdad Iraq for six month engagements. After 17 years of service, both active and on reserves. He’s now in Corrections where he mainly works in Confinement and the Inmate Visitation Search room

John is originally from the Nashville, TN and was self-employed having established his own retail business in 2000. He entered the law enforcement world as "FDLE" certified to run background checks, answer non-emergency and 911 calls and act as a liaison between the Critical Services Bureau and the Sworn Officers, and was sponsored by the State of Florida's Dept. of Corrections for their Corrections Academy.