About Captain Rick Lashley

Rick Lashley was born in Orlando, Florida. His elementary school years were spent in Winter Garden, Florida, before moving to Pierson, Florida, in 1966. He attended T. Dewitt Taylor Jr. & Sr. High School and graduated as an honor student in 1970. Lashley also attained an Associate Degree from Vincennes University.

In 1971, Lashley moved to Palatka and married his wife, Janelle, who is a registered nurse. They have a son and daughter, Matthew and Shannon, and one granddaughter, Taylor.

Lashley served for 30 years in the Florida Army National Guard. His military career began in the 1/265th ADA unit in Palatka, where he attained the rank of Platoon Sergeant. Afterwards, he headed the 364th ADA Detachment, in Camp Blanding. He then moved to the 1/265th ADA Battalion Head Quarters, in Daytona Beach, as the Intelligence Sergeant, subsequently retiring at the rank of Master Sergeant. He was inducted into the Honorable Order of St. Barbara, upon his military retirement, in 2001.

Lashley began his law enforcement career in 1990, at the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, as a Deputy Sheriff in the Patrol Division. In 1995, he was promoted to Detective, where he first served in Property Crimes, followed by service as the Homicide Detective. In 1996, he was bestowed the honors of Detective of the Year, along with Employee of the Year. In 2001, Lashley was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and appointed to the position of Director of Personnel and Internal Affairs. In 2005, He was promoted to the rank of Captain and appointed to the position of the Assistant Division Chief of Detectives. Lashley is also a certified Computer Voice Stress Analyzer examiner.