The unsung heroes of the Haines City Police Department, the Records Department is versatile and important.
The hub of the agency, duties range from answering calls to scheduling details to filling requests. They’re also the first people you meet when you walk in the building.
Their jobs may be sometimes unheralded, but they are important as they are tasked with making sure information is available and accurate for other government agencies such as the State Attorney’s Office or Florida Department of Law Enforcement. They even serve as planners for events such as swearing-in ceremonies. There is virtually nothing the Records Department doesn’t do.
Without further ado, here are the ladies that make up the Records Department at HCPD:
Karen Rodgers, Police Specialist
A native of Lake Hamilton, Karen Rodgers has been a member of the Haines City Police Department since October 1999. Originally a dispatcher, Rodgers has worked in records since 2003. As a dispatcher, she once directed a plane which was searching for missing person. It ended up landing in the Walmart parking lot, but the person was ultimately saved.
A mother of two daughters – Daniele and Kamiya – Rodgers is an avid sports fan and a supporter of youth sports. Her favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys and her favorite all-time athlete is Michael Jordan. Rodgers also enjoys music, especially blues, although she admittedly can’t sing.
Known locally, Rodgers graduated from Haines City High School in 1987. She attended school with future NFL star Wayne Gandy and U.S. Olympian Arthur Blake. She’s an active church member of New Hope Empowerment Center in Haines City where her daughter Daniele serves as the associate pastor.
Angela Stewart, Records Supervisor
The longest tenured employee at the Haines City Police Department, Angela Stewart has been a member of the agency since November 1997. After spending a year at the Lake Hamilton Police Department, Stewart began her tenure at Haines City as a dispatcher. She was promoted to communications supervisor in 1998 and records supervisor in 2003.
When the Haines City Police Department relocated in 2001, she was the first person to move into the new building. A mother of six children – Shawnte, Estevin, Antonio, Angelo, Mervin Jr. and Toni – Stewart was born in West Helena, Arkansas.
A music enthusiast, Stewart once sang before then governor and eventual U.S. President Bill Clinton. She currently plays the piano at New Beginnings Temple of God in Lakeland, where she is a member. For all of her musical talent, Stewart is admittedly not a good cook. She and her husband Mervin Stewart, a retired HCPD captain, have been married for 15 years.
Brigitte Quinones, Records Clerk
The newest member of the Haines City Police Department’s Records Department, Brigitte Quinones has been employed by the agency since May. A native of Puerto Rico, Quinones moved to the United States in 2003 and has been a Florida resident since 2016.
A mother of three boys – Adriel, Joseph and Joey – Quinones and her husband Benjamin have been married for four years. She has one grandchild and soon to be two. Growing up, Quinones played softball. With a laid back personality, she enjoys reading and singing and loves dancing the salsa. As the newest member of the Records Department, Quinones is excited to learn new things and serve the residents of Haines City.