Photos: Come Out With Pride 2019

LGBTQ+ Liaisons

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is the first law enforcement agency in the U.S. to earn accreditation for its LGBTQ+ Liaison Program through Out To Protect Incorporated. To become accredited, an agency must meet six rigorous standards which include building community relationships, trust and establishing communication pathways through its liaison program and participating in a peer review process. The reviewers hailed OCSO’s program as a model program for the nation. We are honored to be recognized for those extraordinary efforts.  

About the LGBTQ+ Liaison Program

Lieutenant Brandon Ragan

Lt. Ragan grew up in Orlando and knew he wanted to be a Deputy Sheriff since he was a student at Colonial High School and joined the OCSO Explorer program in the late 1990s. He has been with the agency since 2003, and has worked in patrol, as a Sergeant for School Resource Officers, criminal investigations, and Sex Crimes. He is currently assigned to the Strategic Communications Section. Lt. Ragan has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration and a Masters in Leadership and Management. He is the Vice President of the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida and active in the One Pulse Foundation.

Sergeant Robin Petrie

Sgt. Petrie was a high school and college athlete who was inspired to enter law enforcement by her high school soccer coach, who was a police captain. She played college basketball and has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. Sergeant Petrie has been with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since 2009 and has worked in patrol in various areas of the county. She is currently assigned to the Orange County Courthouse. Sergeant Petrie is active in the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Sergeant Eulalia Colon

Sgt. Colon grew up in Ocoee and knew she wanted to be a law enforcement officer since she was in elementary school. She joined the OCSO Explorer Unit in the 90’s and was encouraged to apply for a position in the Communications Section by her Explorer Advisor, who was an OCSO Sergeant, and was hired as a 911 operator in 1993. She attended the police academy and became a Deputy Sheriff in 1999. During her career, Sergeant Colon played women’s professional baseball and full contact football, and competed in the OCSO co-ed softball team at the Police and Fire Olympic Games. She is currently assigned to the School Resource Unit and has an Associate in Science degree in Criminal Justice. Sergeant Colon is a member of the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Detective Mara Everson

Master Deputy Everson came to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office 15 years ago after serving a decade in U.S. Air Force Security Forces. She has worked in Patrol, as a School Resource Officer, as a Detective in the Domestic Crimes Unit and is currently in our Crime Prevention Unit. She has a Master of Arts degree in Homeland Security, is active in the One Pulse Foundation and served as Sergeant at Arms for the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Deputy Summer McCray

Deputy McCray was born and raised in Orlando, and was a top ranked high school athlete in Basketball, Flag Football, and Track. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Deputy McCray started her Law Enforcement career as a Correctional Officer in 2016 and has been with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since 2022. She is currently assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division and DJ’s for various Sheriff’s Office events. Deputy McCray is a member of the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Detective Catherine Reges

Detective Reges, a native Floridian, has been with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office since 2014. She has worked in patrol, as a Sex Crimes detective and is currently a homicide detective. She spent 10 years in the Florida Army National Guard with several years of her career as a Public Affairs Officer. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. Detective Reges is a founding member of the OCSO Cycling Team and a member of the Gay Officer’s Action League of Central Florida.

Deputy Samantha Polvere

Deputy Polvere was born and raised in Florida and began her law enforcement career in 2015 in North Florida at a rural sheriff’s office. She transferred to OCSO in 2020, has worked as a patrol deputy and is currently a School Resource Officer. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and is a member of the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Communications Supervisor Evalyn Casper

Evalyn Casper joined the OCSO in 2002 as a 911 Operator and has moved through the ranks as a Dispatcher, Communications Training Officer, and an Assistant Squad Leader. She is currently a Communications Supervisor that oversees a squad of Emergency Communications Specialists. She moved to Orlando in 1998 to attend the University of Central Florida where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Advertising and Public Relations. She is married to OCSO Administrative Assistant Audrey Casper. Evalyn Casper is a member of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) and the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Career Development Supervisor Solimar Miranda

Solimar Miranda joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in 2019 and is currently in the Career Development unit within Human Resources Division. Her professional background includes previous work in criminal justice, social services, organizational effectiveness, leadership development and test development. She holds a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational psychology and is a member of the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.

Risk Management Supervisor Katie Didriksen

Katie joined OCSO in 2017 as Supervisor in Risk Management. She was born in New York and graduated from High School in Brooklyn New York where she began a flag football league for girls. She later moved to New Jersey where she graduated from Centenary University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. Katie is known for her love of music and began DJing in clubs and private parties around the NY/NJ area. This passion for music continued after her move to Florida where she DJ’s for private parties, community events, and OCSO functions. Katie is an active member of the Gay Officers Action League (GOAL) of Central Florida.

DUI Testing Center Supervisor Osvaldo Caner

DUI Testing Center/Traffic Supervisor Osvaldo Caner was born and raised in Cuba and immigrated to Orlando, Florida in 1998. He joined the OCSO in January 2005 and is currently a Supervisor that oversees the DUI Testing Center and the Traffic Citation Section. His professional background includes a law degree in his country of origin where he was a lawyer for almost a decade, an Associate degree in Crime Scene Investigation, and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration. He is also a certified Instructor for the Florida Safety Council where he teaches DUI and Traffic court related classes.

DUI Testing Center Assistant Supervisor Courtney Davis

Courtney was born in Winter Garden and in an effort to make an impact in the community she calls home, she joined the Orange County Sheriff's Office, DUI Testing Unit as a DUI Technician in September 2012. Since then, Courtney has become an Assistant Squad Leader for the DUI Testing Unit. Outside of work, Courtney enjoys spending time with her wife, riding their motorcycles, being with friends and family, being involved in various community events and, of course, spoiling her dog.

Administrative Assistant Audrey Casper

Audrey Casper grew up in Sumter County Florida and moved to Orlando in 2013. She joined OCSO in 2014 as a 911 Operator and has since had several jobs within the agency. She is currently the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Strategic Communications. Audrey holds the position of Recording Secretary for the Gay Officers Action League of Central Florida.