Command Staff

Assistant Chief Mike Cochran has been with the Lauderhill Police Department since October, 1994. During his career in Lauderhill, he has served the City in various capacities including motors, accreditation, watch and bureau commander and Public Information Officer. He currently commands various aspects of the agency including Criminal Investigations, Accreditation, Property & Evidence, Crime Suppression, Crime Analysis, Community Policing in the Windermere Community, Training.

Earlier during his career with the Lauderhill Police Department, he served as the president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 161 and is the past Chairman of the Lauderhill Police Retirement System. A homeowner and resident of Lauderhill, he also serves as an Accreditation Team Leader for the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). His spare time activities include his family, computer work and furthering his education.

Assistant Chief Cochran earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1990, a Master of Public Administration in 2002 and is currently a doctoral candidate (ABD) in Human Resource Development. He is a member of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), the International Association of Chief’s of Police among other professional groups. Assistant Chief Cochran is a graduate of the 105^th Session of the Southern Police Institute’s Administrative Officer’s Course at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky and the 40th Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) held by PERF at Boston University and the 43rd Session of the Chief Executive Seminar held by the Florida Criminal Justice Executive Institute at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Assistant Chief John Rhames oversees all uniformed patrol personnel serving as the commanding officer of the Operations Bureau. He came to the Lauderhill Police Department in 1995 after serving over six years with the Riviera Beach Police Department. He has over nineteen years of law enforcement experience with fourteen years of it as a supervisor or commander.

During Assistant Chief Rhames' tenure in law enforcement, he has worked as a field training officer, crime scene detective, sergeant in the road patrol division, supervised an auto theft unit, marine patrol unit, reserve program, traffic unit and internal affairs.

He has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and a graduate of the Command Officers Development Course (SPI), the 42nd Session of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP) held by PERF at Boston University and the 240th Session of the FBI National Academy. He is currently enrolled in a masters program where he is seeking to obtain a masters degree in Business Administration – Human Resource.

Captain Constance Stanley commands the patrol shifts of the Lauderhill Police Department's Operations Bureau and is one of the city’s Public Information Officers. Captain Stanley has been in law enforcement for over 19 years. She started her employment with the Lauderhill Police Department in 1994, and had been previously assigned to Criminal Investigations, Internal Affairs Division and as a Watch Commander overseeing the Patrol Division, Traffic Division, Canine Units and Field Training functions.

Captain Stanley is a member of the following professional Organizations: Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), National Organizations of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NOBLE), American Society of Public Administrators (ASPA), Broward Chief’s Association, and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA).

Captain Stanley has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Miami Dade Community College, a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from the Union Institute, is a graduate of the Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP), the Southern Police Institute's Command Officers Development Course (SPI), and has attended numerous other law enforcement training schools and seminars, gaining exposure to management practices and tactical operations.

Captain Stanley is proud that she comes from a law enforcement family, with four of her family members currently serving in the law enforcement profession.

Captain Rick Rocco has over 25 years in law enforcement. Previously serving with the Lakewood Ohio Police Department he was a member of SWAT and served as a Field Training Officer, Investigator, and Defensive Tactics Instructor. In 1995 Captain Rocco relocated to Florida to join the Lauderhill Police Department. Captain Rocco has served as the Department's Training Coordinator, Road Patrol Sergeant, supervisor of the Professional Standards Unit, and Day Shift Watch Commander. Captain Rocco still serves as a Public Information Officer for the agency.

Captain Rocco is the Commander of the Support Services Bureau. Units in this bureau include Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene, Training, Crime Analysis, Crime Suppression. Captain Rocco is an adjunct instructor at the Broward College Institute of Public Safety specializing in defensive tactics, firearms, driving and FDLE CMS Curriculum. He is also a Police Diver Instructor through the National Academy of Police Diving actively teaching diving to public safety agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Captain Rocco is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's 31^st Command Officer’s Development Course and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. He is a member of the FDLE Region 13 Criminal Justice Training Council, International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association, International Association of Firearms Instructors, Associate member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and Associate Member of the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association.

Captain Tundra King commands Special Operations functions of the Lauderhill Police Department. These areas include Traffic, School Resource, K-9, Victim Services and Records. Captain King joined the Lauderhill Police Department in 1994 after starting her law enforcement career in 1987 at another South Florida police department. Promoted to sergeant in 1997, she has worked in the Operations Bureau, Training & Recruitment, as an Administrative Sergeant as well as the Youth Services / Special Programs Unit. As a lieutenant, Captain King led the Traffic and K9 units prior to serving as a watch commander.

Captain King is trained as a Senior Drill Instructor, a skill often employed during Police Impact Program sessions earlier in her career.

Captain King has a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bethune-Cookman University, awarded in 1986 and a Masters in Business Administration. Captain King is a graduate of the 51st Session of the Southern Police Institute's Command Officer’s Development Course. A South Florida native, she comes from a family comprised of many law enforcement professionals and is married to a Lauderhill Police Department lieutenant. She serves on the Board of the Mount Bethel Human Services Corporation and is active with the Mount Bethel Baptist Church.

Lieutenant Michael Lucas is came to the Lauderhill Police Department in 1995 after serving in another South Florida police department. Prior to working in South Florida, he worked in New York State. He currently functions as a day shift Watch Commander in the Patrol Division.

During his career with the Lauderhill Police Department, Lieutenant Lucas has worked in patrol and in street crimes. Promoted to sergeant in 1997, Lieutenant Lucas led the Street Crimes Unit as well as served as in the patrol division. Lieutenant Lucas later served for several years as the supervisor of the property crimes section of the Criminal Investigations Division.

Lieutenant Errol Forbes has been with the Lauderhill Police Department since August of 1998. He came to the Department from the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, and is currently a day shift Watch Commander in the Patrol Division. During his career at Lauderhill he served as a Patrol Officer, an Economic Crimes Detective, a Patrol supervisor, and most recently as the supervisor of the Traffic Enforcement and Investigations Unit.

Lieutenant Forbes previously served the Jamaica Constabulary Force as a Constable in the West Kingston Division, an instructor at the Police Academy, and a Detective Corporal in the Narcotics Division.

Lieutenant Forbes holds a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice and a MBA in human resource management. He is a graduate of the 55^th Command Officers Development Course at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. He is a member of several professional organizations such as, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, and the National Forum of Black Public Administrators.

Lieutenant King originally joined the Lauderhill Police Dept in 1994 and was promoted to sergeant in 1997. After a short career change he realized how much he missed the career of Law Enforcement. He rejoined the agency in 2002 and quickly moved through the ranks.

Lieutenant King, a South Florida native, has served as a served correctional officer for 2 years and a police officer for 18 years. He served in the following capacities at the Lauderhill Police Dept: Bravo/Alpha Shift Commander, Criminal Investigation Division Sergeant, Special Response Team member, Field Training Officer and Firearms Instructor.

Lieutenant King has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the prestigious Bethune Cookman University, awarded in 1988 and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He is a graduate of the 58^th Command Officers Development Course at the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Lieutenant King is assigned as a Alpha Shift Commander at the Lauderhill Police Department. Lieutenant King can be reached at (954) 717-4610.

Lieutenant Michael Butkus has 13 years of experience in Law Enforcement and was originally employed by the City of Lauderhill in 1997. During his tenure with the City of Lauderhill he has held several positions such as Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Vice Intelligence and Narcotics Detective, Patrol Sergeant, and supervisor of the Professional Standards Unit.

Lieutenant Butkus serves in Special Operations. In addition, he also serves as an instructor for the Police Department covering numerous topics to include Verbal Judo, Use of Force, EMDD deployment/usage, and Report Writing.

Lieutenant Butkus is currently seeking a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Management.

Lieutenant William Gordon is a 20 year veteran of law enforcement beginning his career with the Broward Sheriff's Office in 1989. As a deputy sheriff his assignments included Patrol, Civil Division and DUI Task Force.

In 1996 he joined the Lauderhill Police Department. As an officer he had assignments in Patrol, Field Training Officer, Street Crimes, DUI/Traffic Homicide and the Training Unit. Promoted to Sergeant in 2002 he returned to the Patrol Division as was assigned as a shift supervisor on the Day Shift. Follow on supervisory assignments have included the Traffic Unit, Training Unit, Internal Affairs and the Crime Suppression Unit.

Lieutenant Gordon is also an adjunct instructor with the Broward College Institute of Public Safety where he specializes in Traffic and DUI Investigations, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Field Training and Internal Affairs. He is the department representative to the Florida Domestic Security Task Force, Southeast Region and is cross designated as a U.S. Customs Officer under Title 19, U.S.C.

Lieutenant Gordon is a graduate of the Broward Sheriff's Office/Nova Southeastern University's Executive Leadership Program, 12th Session and holds an Associate's Degree in Logistics Management from the Community College of the Air Force. He currently serves in the United States Air Force Reserve holding the rank of Master Sergeant.

Lieutenant Gordon is assigned as the Alpha One Shift Commander. He can be reached at 954-714-4808.

F. Paul Shaffer served the Lauderhill Police Department from 1997 until 2008 before retiring as a Captain to become the agency's Asset Maintenance Coordinator. He has been in law enforcement since 1971. He retired as a Deputy Chief of a major South Florida municipality police force after 22 years of service, where he gained management experience by commanding every element of that modern, progressive department.

F. Paul Shaffer holds a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and has attended many nationally recognized managerial schools including the Southern Police Institute Administrative Officer’s Course at the University of Louisville. He is a state certified law enforcement instructor who enjoys teaching all facets of law enforcement. He researches and writes grants for the department and is involved in budgeting, commission agenda preparation and forfeiture fund monitoring and reporting.

Lieutenant C. J. Fifer, originally from the mid-west, began his law enforcement career in Central Florida while still an active duty sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He graduated from the Seminole County Basic Police Academy in 1992 and after re-enlisting into the Marine Corps Reserve, joined the University of Central Florida Police Department.

In January 1995 he joined the Lauderhill Police Department where he has served on patrol as a Field Training Officer, Bike Patrol Officer, Task Force Officer and additional duties as Weapons Instructor, Department Armorer, and Development Review Committee Member before being promoted to Sergeant.

As a Sergeant, he has commanded various units including the Selective Enforcement Team, Code Enforcement, and The Vice, Intelligence and Narcotics Unit. He is a graduate of the 27^th Command Officers Development Course from the Southern Police Institute of the University of Louisville.

Lieutenant Fifer retired in February of 2010 after 15 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Lauderhill. We thank him for his dedication and service.