RENA CONNOLLY
Gainesville,FL
Summary
Detail-oriented Police Officer/Detective with over 6 years of experience in case closure, resource acquisition, and community engagement. Lead training for new officers to ensure compliance with departmental standards and enhance operational efficiency. Committed to continuous learning of state statutes and evolving case law to better serve the community and support victims of personal crimes.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
POLICE OFFICER/FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
Gainesville Police Department
Gainesville
09.2024 - Current
- I returned to the road as a Patrol Officer, with intentions of training incoming officers - the position of Field Training Officer. Beyond the expectations I had as a police officer prior, I now had to maintain close proximity with a trainee while educating them.
- Guide new officers on calls to service, working in high stress environments, communicating and interacting with people while representing a police department.
- Acted as crucial decision-maker on trainee advancement, providing timely support for areas of deficiency.
- Maintain their emotional/physical well-being, while also making sure their actions remain constitutional, consistent, and free of bias.
- Critiqued performance, revised teaching plans, and relayed progress to the program coordinator.
- Facilitated development of officers recognized for excellence in their respective shifts.
POLICE DETECTIVE
Gainesville Police Department
Gainesville, FL
02.2022 - 09.2024
- As a detective my role requires strong analytical ability, combined with the use of law enforcement and public databases to locate vital information for investigations. Strong communication is essential while speaking with victims, offenders, and any citizen that could aid in my endeavors. Likewise, the ability to coordinate with fellow officers in high stress situations to make an arrest, or navigate dangerous incidents allows for increased capability to operate in a workplace under duress, while keeping clear communication.
- Handled cases centered around victims of domestic violence, but also routinely worked investigations involving sexual battery (child and adult), child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, harassment (to include cyber and sexual harassment), indecent exposure.
- Extensive familiarity with typing quickly and technical software, which includes programs like those in the Microsoft Suite.
- Investigated domestic violence cases to provide support to victims, but also routinely worked investigations involving sexual battery (child and adult), child abuse/neglect, elder abuse/neglect, harassment (to include cyber and sexual harassment), indecent exposure.
- I attended training for trauma informed interviewing; which is specifically aimed at interviews of sexual battery victims, but has applications to any traumatized individual.
- Contributed to ICAC efforts in addressing child exploitation cases. ICAC directly handles crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children and any secondary aspects that may occur as a result.
- I interview suspects and offenders while navigating their emotional and mental state.
- Obtained certification to engage in undercover chat operations targeting child predators.
- Expected to take control of a crime scene upon arrival, dictating roles to fellow officers while taking command from any acting supervisors on scene.
- Routinely involved with the courts through depositions, pre-trial hearings, suppression hearings, witness in trial, requesting legal documents (such as warrants and subpoenas), and maintaining a working relationship with the State Attorney's Office staff.
- Recognized by the State Attorney's Office for the amount of warrants I had recieved, and executed, during my time as an investigator.
- Used Microsoft Word's built-in coding language to make fill-in-the-blank warrants to simplify the process, while also lowering the barrier to entry.
- Impeccable written ability is mandatory as the reports written by a detective must be clear and concise, while maintaining all significant events and items of evidentiary value.
- Took command of crime scenes upon arrival, assigning roles to fellow officers and coordinating efforts with acting supervisors to secure evidence and ensure safety.
- Located resources to more quickly deanonymize VOIP phone numbers, and VPNs.
- Recognized by the State Attorney's Office for the amount of warrants I had received, and executed, during my time as an investigator.
- Made a template on how to complete, and request, an arrest warrant that is used throughout my department.
POLICE OFFICER
Gainesville Police Department
Gainesville, FL
04.2020 - 02.2022
- Served on the uniformed patrol of the city of Gainesville, Florida, responding to calls for service from diverse members of the public.
- Administered first aid to injured victims during emergency situations.
- I maintain critical thinking in high stress situations that require me to balance personal safety, the safety of others, and the actions I must take to aid in a call to service.
- I maintain critical thinking in high stress situations that require balancing personal safety, the safety of others, and the actions taken to aid in a call to service.
- My interactions with the public act as an enhancement of the police image.
- I became certified to operate drones per FAA standards and joined the GPD drone unit. While on this unit I became certified to operate the drone for law enforcement, helped locate suspects, cleared areas with potentially dangerous subjects, and conducted surveillance for events with the potential of criminal activity. My FAA standards extend to commercial use.
- Obtained rifle certification for duty use.
TRAINEE
Gainesville Police Department
Gainesville, FL
08.2019 - 04.2020
- During this time I learned the fundamentals of being a police officer. This included taking an in-depth approach to learning Florida Law, defensive tactics, de-escalation, use of intermediate weapons, handgun/shotgun training and qualification, tactical first aid, the methods to navigate dangerous situations, and how to positively interact with the public.
- Obtained radar certification for law enforcement applications.
- Secured certification in breath test operations for law enforcement.
- Received the top shooter award while qualifying with the handgun/shotgun.
- Obtained certification in breath test operations for law enforcement.
- Achieved current CPR certification through regular training.
Education
BACHELOR'S DEGREE - CRIMINOLOGY
University of Florida
Gainesville, FLSkills
- Criminal Investigation
- Constitutional Policing
- Trauma Informed Interviewing
- Report Writing
- Public Safety
- Community Engagement
- Advanced Analytical Thinking
- High-stress adaptability
- Case management
Timeline
POLICE OFFICER/FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
Gainesville Police Department
09.2024 - Current
POLICE DETECTIVE
Gainesville Police Department
02.2022 - 09.2024
POLICE OFFICER
Gainesville Police Department
04.2020 - 02.2022
TRAINEE
Gainesville Police Department
08.2019 - 04.2020
BACHELOR'S DEGREE - CRIMINOLOGY
University of Florida