Cocoa Police Department Announces New Lieutenant Patrick Dovale

By  //  January 12, 2016

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Chief Mike Cantaloupe announces the promotion of Patrick Dovale to the position of lieutenant. (Cocoa Police Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA – Chief Mike Cantaloupe announces the promotion of Patrick Dovale to the position of lieutenant.

Lt. Dovale will oversee the Professional Compliance division of the police department, which encompasses internal affairs investigations, audits, response to resistance reviews, citywide internal investigations and policy and procedures review and compliance among other administrative duties.

The promotion became effective January 11.

Lt. Dovale joined the Cocoa Police Department in 1997 as a patrol officer after receiving his certification in criminal justice from Mid Florida Technical College in 1995. Lt. Dovale served in various positions including K-9 officer, detective and criminal investigations.

Among his more noteworthy accomplishments, Lt. Dovale was awarded the department’s Combat Cross for his role in stopping an active shooter who barricaded himself in his home on Hightower Street in 2000.

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The suspect fired several rounds at officers before he was wounded and subsequently arrested. More recently during his duties as a patrol sergeant, Dovale assisted with the rescue of three pit bulls trapped in a storm drain.

The rescue captured international attention and earned the department a “Compassionate Police Department” award from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Lt. Dovale says he hopes to continue and improve the mission of the Professional Compliance division by raising the level of transparency and accountability by which it functions.

“We’ve always done a good job with our professional compliance standards and I hope to take us to the next level,” Lt. Dovale stated.

“I think it’s important to find new and better ways to train, respond and improve our overall service delivery to the public. I’m grateful and excited for the opportunity.”

During his tenure with the police department, Lt. Dovale earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Central Florida in 2009.

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He is married and has five children.

The police department command staff currently includes four lieutenants, and three majors.

Together they facilitate the operations and administration of the department which includes 69 sworn officers and 24 full time civilian personnel in addition to two part time book officers, 5 reserve officers and one auxiliary officer.