~ Member Biographies ~

~ Donald F. Eslinger Biography ~

... continued from our Advisory Panel Members Home Page.

Sheriff Eslinger has 29 years of service with the Seminole County Sheriff's Office. His career began in 1978 as a Radio Dispatcher and he advanced through the ranks as a Patrol Deputy, Criminal Investigator, Special Operations Investigator, Watch Commander, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team leader, two tours with the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as a Task Force Agent; and returning as Commander of the City/County Investigative Bureau. At the time of his appointment, Sheriff Eslinger held the position of major, third in command of the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Eslinger is currently a consultant and instructor for the National Sheriffs' Association regarding community policing and related topics, past President of Florida Sheriffs' Association and current Commissioner of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Sheriff Eslinger earned his Bachelor's Degree in Applied Behavioral Sciences from National Louis University and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He also attended the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Chief Executive Institute in Tallahassee, Florida and the National Academy of Corrections - U.S. Department of Justice.

Sheriff Eslinger is involved in the following community programs:

• Seminole South Rotary Club
• Crimeline - Board of Directors
• Envision of Seminole - Board of Directors
• Founders' Council and Safe House of Seminole - Member

Professional activities include:

• National Sheriffs' Association - Former Board of Directors, Executive Committee
  • Drug Enforcement Committee
  • Resolution Committee - Vice-Chairman
• Commission On Accreditation For Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)- Commissioner
• Florida Sheriffs' Association -Past President, Board of Directors
  • Legislative Committee - Chairman
• Florida Sheriffs' Self Insurance Fund - Vice Chairman, Board of Managers
• Florida Sheriffs' Self Insurance Fund Audit Committee - Chairman
• Florida D.A.R.E. - Board of Directors and former Chairman
• Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) - Executive Board Member and former Chairman
• Region 7, Training Advisory Council (Criminal Justice Standards and Training)
• Florida Sheriffs' Association Task Force - Zone 5 - Chairman
• Florida Suicide Coordinating Council - Member
• Florida Partners In Crisis - Former State Director
• Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Missing Children Information Advisory Board - Member
• Treatment Advocacy Center, Arlington, VA - Board Member
• Select Advisory Panel on Adult Protective Services

Honors and Awards:

• Outstanding Performance of Duty Award from Kiwanis Club of Central Florida
• Military Order of the Purple Heart for meritorious and conspicuous service
• Law Officer of the Year Award 1984, from 40 et 8;
• Public Safety Officer of the Year, from Chamber of Commerce
• Distinguished Service Award from Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency
• Service to Mankind Award from Sertoma Club
• Leadership Award, Seminole County Republican Executive Committee
• Children's Home Society 2002 R. David Thomas Child Advocate of the Year Award
• 2002 Florida Partners in Crisis Leadership Award
• Girls and Boys Town of Central Florida 2002 Spirit of Youth Award
• Seminole Community Mental Health Center Excellence Award
• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Florida President's Award 2002
• Florida Crime Prevention Association's President's Award 2002
• Optimist Club of Sanford Friend of Youth Award
• 2006 Good Government Award from Private Business Association of Seminole, County, Inc.