[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 17 (Monday, January 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E86]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING MAJOR THORNTON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL POSEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 27, 2020

  Mr. POSEY. Madam Speaker, in celebration of Black History Month, I 
rise today in recognition of Major Milo Thornton, an exemplary 
constituent of mine and African American Pioneer who bas served our 
community for 23 years in law enforcement.
  Major Thornton began his career in 1997, as a correctional deputy 
with Saint Lucie County's Sheriff Office, under the leadership of the 
now retired Sheriff Robert ``Bobby'' Knowles. After a year and a half 
tenure, he became a patrolman with the Vero Beach Police Department.
  Major Thornton quickly rose through the ranks, being hired by Sheriff 
Roy Raymond at Indian River County Sheriff's Office four years later, 
becoming sergeant in 2012, receiving assignment to uniform patrol, and 
in 2016 being promoted to lieutenant, where he was reassigned to 
criminal investigations. In this role, he was afforded the opportunity 
to attend advanced training courses that would prepare him for the rest 
of his career. He worked closely with general assignment detectives, 
the narcotics division and criminal analysts to get to the bottom of 
various criminal investigations.
  In 2017, Sheriff Deryl Loar promoted Major Thornton to the rank of 
captain, reassigning him to the Uniforms Operations Division in which 
he oversaw the operations of all men and women who patrol the county, 
special operations, including the K9 Unit, Traffic Unit, Agriculture 
and Marine Unit, among many others. Additionally, he worked with 
dispatchers in the Communications Unit and the Victims Assistance Unit.
  In 2019 he was again promoted, this time to rank of major, where he 
was to serve in the Bureau of Administration. In this position, he 
managed aspects of human resources, information technology, homeland 
security, Judicial Services, and the School Resource Unit, just to name 
a few.
  Major Thornton also serves our community in many capacities outside 
of his day job, one of which, as an adjunct instructor at Indian River 
State College, his alma mater where he earned his Associates and 
Bachelor's degrees. He has worked within their College of Public Safety 
Training for 14 years now, teaching subjects such as Introduction to 
Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigations, and Interviewing and Report 
Writing.
  Major Thornton is a member of the International Associations of 
Chiefs of Police, a graduate of the Southern Police Institute's Command 
Officers Development Course (class No. 80) at the University of 
Louisville, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement Leadership 
Academy (class No. 28). In his free time, Major Thornton serves as 
volunteer board member of several charities and non-profit 
organizations.
  On Tuesday, February 18, 2020 in celebration of Black History Month, 
the Indian River County Board of Commissioners will honor Major 
Thornton's longstanding service to the community. The Board is 
dedicated to celebrating African American Pioneers in the community 
such as Major Thornton, who have paved the way for future generations.
  I ask my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me 
in recognizing Major Thornton for his dedication to protecting 
residents and his service to our community.

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