Rockledge Announces Donna Seyferth as Deputy Police Chief, Jim Wilson as Deputy Fire Chief
By Lisa Nicholas // April 24, 2018
Rockledge Department of Public Safety
BREVARD COUNTY • ROCKLEDGE, FLORIDA – In late 2017, the Police Department and the Fire Department of the City of Rockledge joined forces and began operating as the Rockledge Department of Public Safety.
Now referred to as the Police Division and the Fire Division of the Department of Public Safety, deputy chiefs have been assigned to handle the day-to-day operations of each division.
As such, the City of Rockledge announced the selection of Mrs. Donna Seyferth as the new Deputy Police Chief of the Police Division and Jim Wilson as the new Deputy Fire Chief of the Fire Division effective April 23.
Deputy Police Chief Seyferth, who has 28 years of police experience, began her career with the Rockledge Public Safety Department as a dispatcher in May of 1989. In November 1992, she became a sworn officer and, since that time, has held the ranks of Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant and now Deputy Chief.
After an exhaustive internal testing process due to the number of highly qualified internal applicants, Deputy Chief Seyferth was identified as the successful candidate. She has extensive experience in the areas of field training, public information, internal affairs and criminal investigations.
Throughout her career, Deputy Chief Seyferth has been a transformational leader, anticipating future trends, inspiring followers to understand and embrace the vision of the department, and developing those individuals around her.
Deputy Chief Seyferth earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Barry University and is a graduate of the University of Louisville, 77th Command Officer Development Course, Southern Police Institute.
“For the past five years I have had the privilege of working beside Deputy Chief Seyferth,” said Rockledge’s Public Safety Director Joseph LaSata. “I have witnessed her dedication to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and I could not be prouder of her than I am today.”
The announcement of Jim Wilson, who has 35 years of firefighting experience, follows an extensive national search conducted by the Rockledge Public Safety Department.
The search and evaluation process was intricate and collaborative, encompassing interviews with stakeholders, and interviews with the top four applicants. At the conclusion of this process, Wilson was identified as the top and preferred candidate unanimously by the selection committee.
Deputy Fire Chief Wilson comes to Rockledge from Plant City, where he served the last 10 years as an EMS Chief. He began his career as a firefighter in Brevard County before joining the City of Melbourne Fire Department.
Wilson grew up in Brevard County, attended Cocoa Beach High School, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix. He holds certifications in Firefighter I, Fire Service Instructor I, Executive Fire Officer, National Fire Academy, and Paramedic.
“I am excited to welcome Jim Wilson to the City of Rockledge as our new Deputy Fire Chief,” said LaSata.
“With the incredible residential and commercial growth we are experiencing, we look forward to his leadership for our department as it grows with the community. These are momentous times in Rockledge and we are happy for Jim to now be a part of them.”
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