County Honors Retired Sheriff's Major Vinnie Vecchi

Date Added: March 19, 2012 2:11 pm

Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

For 25 years, his sense of civic duty and infectious, positive attitude and good humor were hallmarks of his service record. Even a battle with cancer in his 20s couldn’t slow down Vinnie Vecchi, who returned to continue his career at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office after a life-saving bone marrow transplant and then went on to rise to the rank of major. Vecchi retired this week and is preparing to relocate to West Virginia. But Sheriff Ben Johnson and the Volusia County Council couldn’t let him leave without taking time out to recognize Vecchi’s accomplishments and congratulate him for a job well done. The opportunity came at Thursday’s Council meeting in DeLand. “Anytime the Sheriff’s Office needed anybody, Vinnie was there,” remarked Sheriff Johnson. “He will be greatly missed by us all.”

A New York native, the 48-year-old Vecchi began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a reserve officer with the Daytona Beach Police Department. He went on to work as an Edgewater patrol officer until he was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in December 1986. During his tenure with the Sheriff’s Office, he worked in road patrol, motors and court security, served as a school resource deputy and supervised the agency’s civil section, warrants unit and extraditions unit. And Vecchi told the Council, Sheriff Johnson and assembled co-workers that he enjoyed every single assignment. “I had a great time. I never dreaded coming to work in any assignment,” said Vecchi, who was joined Thursday by his wife and son.

Vecchi reached the pinnacle of his career in January 2008, when he was promoted to the rank of major and commanded the agency’s Judicial Services Division, one of three operating division in the agency. As major, he oversaw the civil section, court security, prisoner transport, warrants, extraditions and records. But Sheriff Johnson also noted that Vecchi’s big-hearted charitable work, on behalf of causes such as the West Volusia Police Athletic League, 100 Deputies/100 Kids, the American Heart Association and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, was equally important. “This is the kind of leadership that Vinnie has provided,” said Sheriff Johnson.

County Council members added their words of praise as well. “I just have the greatest respect for you and have over the years,” said Council member Joie Alexander. “We’re going to miss your professionalism and your leadership.” Added County Chair Frank Bruno: “You’re a friend to all of Volusia County.” County Manager Jim Dinneen also told Vecchi that he was proud of his service. “You exemplify what I think I see always in the Sheriff’s Office -- somebody with a unique personality that’s professional and always positive.”