IM体育官网 Police Sgt. Jeannette Leonard is committed to keeping the University community safe. She joined the department in 2017 after a long career in the Air Force and the Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.
As a teen growing up in Brooklyn, New York, IM体育官网 Police Sgt. Jeannette Leonard knew military service was her way to a better future.
鈥淚 saw the same people standing on the corners and selling drugs in our parks day in and day out,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 never saw any upward movement with anyone and I didn鈥檛 want to be in that environment.鈥�
Leonard joined the U.S. Air Force, determined to change the trajectory of her life while serving the country she loves. She left for boot camp on March 27, 1997.
鈥淢ost of us were scared out of our minds; it鈥檚 very humbling,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e broken down, but that鈥檚 the purpose of basic training.鈥�
Leonard served in health administration for the military, working to maintain medical records. She was discharged, started a family, and soon reenlisted. Leonard was testing to become a sergeant when the terrorist attacks on the United States occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
鈥淓verybody had readiness on their mind. Everybody had their go bag,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was single with a 2-year-old and called my mom and said, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know how you鈥檙e going to get here, but you need to get here so you can take Taliah back home with you.鈥欌��
Although Leonard鈥檚 deployment was ultimately canceled as she awaited departure in New Jersey, she is aware of the strain wartime deployments placed on the nation鈥檚 entire military and mindful that some were asked to do so much more.
鈥淵ou kind of grow up and you have a higher sense of responsibility,鈥� she said.
After Leonard鈥檚 second discharge in 2006, she moved to Winter Haven, IM体育官网, and joined the Polk County Sheriff鈥檚 Office.
鈥淚 wanted to be a cop since I was a child. I had a lot of family turmoil and didn鈥檛 see anybody there to help,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a little girl, you can鈥檛 really do anything because you don鈥檛 have the power or the strength, and you鈥檙e just witnessing things and wondering where the help is.
鈥淣ow, I鈥檓 the help.鈥�
Leonard joined the IM体育官网 Poly Police Department in 2017. As part of her duties, she leads women鈥檚 self-defense classes, befriends students and employees, and works to create a positive and safe campus environment 鈥� something vastly different from her work as a homicide detective.
鈥淭his is very much community policing and it鈥檚 very cool to strike up conversations with students and staff,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e still are law enforcement and think about worst-case scenarios, but we have to be present. It鈥檚 a different animal.鈥�
It鈥檚 been a pleasant change in pace and focus for Leonard, and she said she welcomes the opportunity to continue her lifelong calling to serve.
鈥淚鈥檝e always been of the mindset that you do what you put your mind to,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 change a thing.鈥�
Contact:
Lydia Guzm谩n
Director of Communications
863-874-8557
