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Officer reaches top ranks of police
By CHRIS TISCH, Times Staff Writer LARGO -- Since joining the city Police Department in 1985, Lt. Miranda Anderson has worked just about everywhere an officer can in the department. She's been an officer on patrol and a detective in investigations. She's been a canine officer, an internal affairs investigator and has trained new officers and overseen traffic safety. One thing she hasn't been: a sergeant. Anderson leap-frogged that rank five years ago when she was promoted from officer to lieutenant. Now, Anderson is being promoted to captain, which makes her one of the five highest-ranking officials in the Police Department. "She has everything going for her," police Chief Lester Aradi said. Anderson will become the department's third captain. Previously, the department had only two captains, but Aradi felt they were burdened with too much work. Aradi wanted one captain to oversee only patrol operations, the part of the department where the public is most likely to make contact with the Police Department. "It's my hope to have a captain who is strictly focusing on patrol services," Aradi said. "She has very strong administrative capabilities and a great deal of longevity and experience." Anderson, who currently is the commander of investigations, will be promoted Oct. 1. Commanders are seeking her replacement, who will work with Anderson for about six months to ensure a smooth transition. Anderson said she is pleased to be promoted, but will miss her current assignment overseeing detectives and the cases they investigate. "I'm really going to miss what I'm doing now," she said. Anderson said she has no immediate plans for her new assignment, though she plans to keep a watchful eye on operations. "I would definitely not plan on making any big changes," she said. "I think it's important to watch what's going on and see how it's functioning. Maybe it doesn't need any changes." Anderson's promotion comes only a few months after Aradi demoted the highest-ranking female in the department. Former Deputy Chief Judy Gershkowitz, who also served as interim chief before Aradi was hired, was moved to a captain position this summer. Capt. John Carroll was promoted to deputy chief. Anderson's promotion means two of the top five department leaders are female. In addition, two of the department's lieutenants are women. Aradi said Anderson wasn't promoted because she's a woman, but because she was the most qualified. She beat out two male competitors. "Her gender had absolutely no bearing on the assignment," Aradi said. "Miranda won it on the basis of her strengths and her abilities." Carroll, Gershkowitz, Capt. Jimmy Johns and a city personnel analyst reviewed the applications of the three candidates. The applicants were required to write a letter of intent, hand in a resume and answer questions. All four ranked Anderson as the top candidate. The choice was ultimately Aradi's.
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