Command and Staff Program

ACE Approved for 6 Hrs. of Graduate Level College Transfer

Sgt. Charles Varnado, Fairhope PD, AL – [email protected] ~ 251-305-6745

Hello, my name is Sergeant Charles Varnado and I have had a career in service to others that spans over 25 years, beginning with my military service and continuing with my current career in law enforcement spanning the last 20 years. I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. After graduating McGill-Toolen high school I joined the Alabama Army National Guard 1st of the 20th Group Company B Airborne, Special Forces in the capacity of a communications specialist. I was a military paratrooper, parachute qualified jumping fixed wing and rotary aircraft. While serving in the Army National Guard I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of South Alabama, majoring in English with a minor in political science. I completed my military service after 6 years and was honorably discharged.

In August 2003 I began my career in law enforcement with the Montgomery Police Department in Montgomery, Alabama. I completed the Montgomery Police Academy at the top of my class, received a Commendation medal in 2006, and served the department for 4 years with distinction.

In July 2007 I was hired with the City of Fairhope Police Department. While at Fairhope I have served as an FTO (field training officer) directly training many officers. I assisted in developing the first SWAT team at the Fairhope Police Department. I researched, developed and co-authored the Domestic Violence policy and procedures for the Fairhope Police Department as well as providing the policy and procedures training to the department. I am a certified de-escalation instructor, ALICE instructor, and CPR instructor and completed the FBI Instructor Development course. I was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 2015 while serving in the patrol division. I have served with the Baldwin County MCU (major crimes unit) investigating officer involved shootings. I have completed the TEEX/FEMA Enhanced All-Hazards Incident Management Unified Command course MGT 314 as well as completing several FEMA courses in Incident Management.

In March 2022 I was promoted to Sergeant over Fairhope’s Criminal Investigations Division and have led my group of investigators for a little over a year. Since becoming the Sergeant over CID, I have been responsible for having Fairhope’s CID personnel certified through JSU 80-hour certification course for investigators.

In October 2007 I married my college sweetheart, Angela. My wife and I are members of St. Lawrence Catholic Church. I am a member of The Men of St. Joseph. In 2018 we became certified Foster Parents through Alabama Baptist Children’s Home and have opened our home to several foster children.

Sgt. Johnathan Whaley, Opelika PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 334-558-7318

Sergeant Johnathan Whaley started his Law Enforcement career with the Opelika Police Department in 2013. The Opelika Police Department is located between Montgomery and Columbus in Lee County, Alabama. Throughout his career, Sergeant Whaley has held several positions within the Police Department. In 2018, Sergeant Whaley was selected to serve as a School Resource Officer and served in that role for three years. In 2021, Sergeant Whaley was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Patrol Division. After a short assignment in patrol, Sergeant Whaley was reassigned to the School Resource Officer Unit as the supervisor for three years. In early 2024, Sergeant Whaley was assigned to the Training Unit as a training supervisor. In addition to these roles, Sergeant Whaley has served as Assistant Team Leader for the Lee County SWAT team, where he has been assigned for the past eight years. Sergeant Whaley is a firearms instructor and member of the peer support team.

Before joining the Opelika Police Department, Sergeant Whaley played football and attended Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL. Sergeant Whaley completed his bachelor’s degree (Criminal Justice) and master’s (Justice Administration) at Faulkner University. Sergeant Whaley has been happily married to his high school sweetheart Kayla for ten years and has two children, ages five and four.

Sgt. Ben Causland, Lee County Sheriff, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 334-750-2121

My name is Ben Causland, and I am currently assigned as a Corporal – General Investigations Supervisor to the Investigations Division with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in Opelika, Alabama. I have worked at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for a decade now, in various positions. These positions consist of working in the Patrol, Training, and Investigations Division. I also share two collateral duties; the first as an Assistant Team Leader with the Lee County SWAT team, that I have served on for 8 years now. The second being a Public Safety Rescue and Recovery Diver in the Marine Operations Unit. During my time at the Sheriff’s Office, I also served for a period in the United States Marine Corps (Reserve Component). As far as my educational background, I hold a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Faulkner University and a graduate of the Comprehensive Advanced Leadership and Management Course and the Southeastern Leadership Executive Development Seminar (SLEDS). I am married to my wife Brooke, of 10 years, and we are parents to two young children.

Cpl. Dylan Pugh, Lee County Sheriff, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 334-742-3986

My name is Dylan Pugh. I grew up in Waverly, Alabama. Growing up my passions were football, wrestling and lifting glasses. After high school, I played football for Huntingdon College, where I majored in History. After college, I began my law enforcement career working corrections in Atlanta for three years before being hired by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 2014. I have worked in Patrol, Investigations, Narcotics and I am currently assigned to the Training Division. I am married with no children. My passions include weightlifting and martial arts. I am currently a purple belt in Brazilian Jiujitsu.

Commander Bernie Woodward, Flagler County Sheriff, FL ~ [email protected] ~ 386-262-5956

Bernie Woodward began his law enforcement career in January of 2002 with the Bunnell Police Department. In January of 2004 he was hired with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Officer as a Deputy Sheriff. In the fall of 2007, Bernie Woodward was promoted to Detective within the Narcotics unit, a position he held until the summer of 2014 when he was the promoted to the rank of Corporal and returned to the patrol division as a supervisor.

In 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and reassigned to the Special Investigations Unit, formally known as the Narcotics Enforcement Team. In January of 2021, Bernie Woodward was promoted to the rank of Commander and has worked as Watch Commander and District Commander. In August of 2023, he will transition to Executive Officer in our Community Policing Division. During his Law Enforcement career, Bernie Woodward has held numerous additional collateral duties such as: Task Force Agent (FDLE), SWAT Team, Clandestine Lab Team, Field Training Officer, and CVSA Operator. Bernie Woodward currently holds an A.S. degree from Vincennes University.

Commander Kenny Goncalves, Flagler County Sheriffk FL ~ [email protected] ~ 386-503-7190

I started my Law Enforcement career in May 8th, 2006 at the age of thirty one after moving to Florida from New Jersey. I served as a patrol deputy and an evidence technician from 2006 to 2010. In 2010 I transferred to the traffic division where I served as a motor patrol deputy and became a certified Traffic Homicide Investigator. My promotion to Corporal occurred in 2006 and I was transferred back to the Community Policing Division (road patrol). I have served in the Community Policing Division since then as a Corporal, Sergeant and now a district Commander where I am responsible for all law enforcement operations within the city of Palm Coast. I am a graduate of the Flagler County Leadership Academy, FDLE Florida Leadership Academy and a trilogy graduate of the FBI-LEEDA Institute.
My wife Cindy and I have been married for twenty three years and are proud parents of two young women, Sky who is 25 years old and Destiny is 22 years old. We also recently adopted our two nieces who live with us full time. My hobbies are riding my motorcycles and I also play a range of different musical instruments.

Sgt. Brandon Perdue, Foley PD, AL ~ [email protected]  ~ 251-424-0162

Hello to all. My name is Brandon Perdue and I have been in law enforcement for 15 years. I originally became a certified officer in Escambia County, Florida in 2009 and then transitioned over to Baldwin County, Alabama in 2010. During my time with the Foley Police Department I have been a field training officer, a member of the Honor Guard, a taser instructor for Axon, a corporal on patrol, and am currently a Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division.

In home life, I have been married for 20 years and have three sons ranging in ages 10 to 18. My father is retired from the Florida Highway Patrol and is currently in charge of the Federal Courthouse in downtown Pensacola, FL; so my entering into law enforcement was following in his footsteps. Much of my family time is spent close to the water or in the woods camping. I enjoy the outdoors and being able to unplug from the world in my down time. Plus, my wife and I find it to be a positive stride to show our boys that there is more to life than the digital world that seems to have taken over society these days.

Special Agent in Charge (SAC) John P. Scott, DEA ~ [email protected] ~ 703-689-1724

 

On January 31, 2022, Mr. Scott was selected by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Administrator Anne Milgram to serve in the DEA’s Senior Executive Service (SES) as the Special Agent
in Charge (SAC) of the DEA’s Asia Pacific Division (APD). Mr. Scott is based at the APD’s Divisional
Office in the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand and oversees all 18 of the DEA’s offices in the APD.

Mr. Scott entered into the Drug Enforcement Administration in January 2004 and was initially
assigned to the Miami Field Division for five years. In this assignment, Mr. Scott led multiple investigations
into large scale narcotics trafficking organizations throughout the United States and various foreign
countries. In 2009, Mr. Scott was selected for an overseas assignment in Merida, Mexico where he spent
three years investigating the highest-level Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

In 2012, Mr. Scott was promoted to the position of Country Attaché of DEA’s Guatemala City
Country Office in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Mr. Scott served as the principal advisor to the U.S.
Ambassador on all drug and money laundering issues. Mr. Scott led the Guatemala City Country Office to
record seizures in both narcotics and seized currency while cultivating an unprecedented level of
cooperation with the Guatemalan government. This ultimately led to the authorization of extraditions of
Guatemalan citizens for drug trafficking crimes which had not taken place in decades. Mr. Scott was
awarded the highest-level award allowed to a civilian by the President of Guatemala for his service and
accomplishments as the head of DEA in Guatemala.

From 2015 to 2019, Mr. Scott served in a variety of domestic assignments to include, Resident
Agent in Charge (RAC) of the DEA Tulsa Resident Office in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Special Operations Division
Liaison Officer assigned to the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC); and Section Chief of the Tactical
Operations Section at EPIC. In July 2018, Mr. Scott was selected by the EPIC Director to serve as the
Executive Assistant/Deputy Director of EPIC. As the Deputy Director, Mr. Scott oversaw all aspects of the
EPIC on behalf of the Director. Mr. Scott served as the primary advisor to the EPIC Director in functional
areas requiring high level review, criminal investigation, management and oversight of a multi-million dollar
budget, approximately 300 personnel, and direct interaction with the highest levels of law
enforcement executive personnel, Intelligence Community executive staff, and U.S. Military and
Political/Government officials.

In June 2019, Mr. Scott assumed the leadership role of Assistant Special Agent in Charge over the
DEA’s Oklahoma offices. Based in Oklahoma City, Mr. Scott oversaw the Oklahoma City District Office,
the Tulsa Resident Office, and the McAlester Resident Office. The DEA in Oklahoma has approximately
130 personnel consisting of special agents, task force officers, diversion investigators, intelligence analysts,
and administrative personnel. Mr. Scott worked closely with state, local, federal, and tribal counterparts to
target the highest-level drug traffickers in the state. A native of Oklahoma and a United States Air Force veteran,
Mr. Scott possesses a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from Fayetteville State University, a Master’s Degree in
Criminal Justice from American Military University, and has completed DEA’s Senior Executive Development
programs at the University of Notre Dame and the University of Virginia. Mr. Scott was a police officer in
Charlotte, North Carolina prior to joining the DEA. Mr. Scott has been married for 24 years and has two daughters.

Sgt. Robert Bugg, Opelika PD, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 334-475-6553

I have been employed with the Opelika Police Department for over 16 years. Over 15 years of my time employed here has been spent in the Patrol Division, with approximately 12 years spent as a front line supervisor in Patrol. In January of 2024 I was reassigned to the Administrative Division where I supervise personnel in Communications, Records, Evidence, Supply, and Building Maintenance.

Sgt. Damian Rehorn, Fairhope Police Department, AL ~ [email protected] ~ 706.763.8032

I am Corporal Damian Rehorn of the Fairhope (AL) Police Department. I have been with my department since 2011. I have served as a patrolman, patrol supervisor, and currently as the department training coordinator. Prior to my time with Fairhope, I was in the United States Army for 8 years. My time in the Army varied from a combat deployment to Iraq (2005-2006), to full time law enforcement for 3 years at Fort Benning, GA. My military and law enforcement service has led me to the belief that leadership has nothing to do with rank and everything to do with service. I am excited to continue my journey in leadership, and in this great profession. I am an instructor in several law enforcement subjects, including Drug Evaluation and Classification (DRE), Use of Force (FLETC), Asp Baton, Taser, OC Spray, and others. I have been a field training officer for 10 years and the FTO program manager for my department for 2 years. I have a desire to teach now and after active law enforcement service and I recently began as a contract trainer for a national law enforcement training company (Command Presence Training). Through this course, I hope to become a better leader, mentor, and influencer so that I can continue to help my department advance and grow. I have a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from The University of North Alabama. I have a wife of more than 15 years, and a child in high school and one in college. I am active in my community as a member of my department and active in my Church, serving where I can.

Chief Joshua Benoit, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. FL ~ [email protected] ~ 904.630.7806

Chief Joshua Benoit commands the Prisons Division for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The Prisons Division is comprised of the Community Transition Center and Montgomery Correctional Center. After serving in the United States Marine Corps, he began his career in the Department of Corrections (DOC) in 1999. After serving at multiple facilities and in several areas in the DOC, Chief Benoit promoted up through the ranks until he became an assistant chief for a previous Sheriff. Upon his election, Sheriff T.K. Waters selected Chief Benoit to serve on his staff.

Chief Benoit is married and the father of three boys. His oldest serves in the US Navy, his middle son is in college, and his youngest is in high school.

Chief Benoit has a Bachelor of Science degree in public safety administration from Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Lt. Byron Stival, Bella Vista Police Department, AR ~ [email protected] ~ 479-381-7176

I have been in law enforcement for 16 years. I started my career in 2018 with the Bentonville Arkansas Police Department. I had the privilege to work in the Patrol Division, train others as a Field Training Officer, an operator with the SWAT Team, and ended my time as a sergeant. In 2016, I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Allied American University. In 2018, I was hired with the Bella Vista Police Department to be the Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division. After almost five years, I transferred to the Patrol Division to be the Commander of that Division. I am currently still working in that role. I am also the Crisis Negotiations Team Commander and I oversee the K9 unit, the Field Training Program, and the Accident Reconstruction Team. I enlisted with the United States Army Reserves in 2007 and spend six years in the Military Police Corps. I did one deployment to Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.