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Omar Berrio
The 20-year force veteran, Lt. Omar Berrio will receive his Florida Technical College Criminal Justice diploma this spring.
Just months shy of tossing his graduation cap in the air, Omar Berrio has achieved a career milestone by being named a lieutenant at the Kissimmee Police Department.
The former KPD sergeant received the honor after completing three years of his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida Technical College (FTC). He’s scheduled to graduate this spring. One of the requirements for the lieutenant position is to have an associate degree or 60 college credits, which he completed last year.
In 2018, Berrio was selected as the first recipient of the Sergeant Richard “Sam” Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter Memorial Scholarship. The full scholarship was created to honor the legacy of the two officers, who lost their lives in a 2017 shooting while patrolling a North Kissimmee neighborhood.
Berrio commended FTC for his academic and latest professional achievement.
“Florida Technical College has been key to my professional growth and success,” Berrio said. “The criminal justice program with an emphasis on Homeland Security aligned with my career goals and equipped me with the tools I needed to compete for a management position. I’ve also been able to pass along some of the strategies learned at school to my colleagues at the police department. Pursuing an education while still serving the community is a win-win.”
Berrio’s career started with six years in the U.S. Marines, including one tour of duty in Iraq. He worked his way through the ranks of the Kissimmee Police Department starting as a patrol officer and serving in traffic enforcement, the SWAT Team, criminal investigations, tactical enforcement, special investigations and internal affairs during his 21 years with the department.
“Omar is a great example of pursuing your dreams, no matter what or how long it takes,” said James Burkett, FTC president. “Our goal is to provide students with the tools they need for success - and in Omar’s case, to fulfill a lifelong dream. We’re certainly grateful as a community for his contributions and the service he gives day in and day out on the front lines.”
Kissimmee Police Chief Jeff O’Dell said, “We were honored to partner with Florida Technical College for their generosity in creating this scholarship in the memory of Kissimmee Police Sergeant Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter. I am extremely proud of Lt. Omar Berrio and believe he was an outstanding choice for the opportunity to complete his bachelors in criminal justice with an emphasis on Homeland Security. I’m looking forward to attending his graduation this spring and am excited to see the impact this opportunity has on his already stellar career.”
The FTC Bachelor’s Degree Program in Criminal Justice with an Emphasis on Homeland Security is a combination of courses that provide skills in such areas as crime scene investigation, public administration, advanced application of homeland security and emergency management. Students also learn to develop interagency and private sector relationships in Homeland Security.
Following his graduation this spring, Berrio will continue to serve the residents of Kissimmee and further his career.
“My dream is to become a police captain,” he said.
