JAMES STEFFENS PROMOTED TO POLICE LIEUTENANT
OFFICER SEAN ALLASTER PROMOTED TO RANK OF SERGEANT

Clearwater Police Sergeant James Steffens, a 13-year veteran of the Clearwater Police Department, was promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant at a department staff meeting this morning, Chief Sid Klein announced. Patrol Officer Sean Allaster was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant at the same investiture ceremony.

Lieutenant Steffens, whose most recent assignment was supervisor of the Personnel and Training Unit - attached to the Office of the Chief - now assumes command of the Special Operations Section of the Patrol Division. Lieutenant Steffens will also command the department's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team and the Emergency Response Team (ERT).

A 33-year-old native of Clearwater, Lieutenant Steffens began his law enforcement career in October 1988 as a uniformed Patrol Officer. Three years later, he was selected to join the SWAT Team, where he made a steady ascension through chain-of-command responsibility assignments.

Schooled in Advanced SWAT Techniques, Dignitary Protection and Emergency Response to Nuclear, Biological and Chemical events, Steffens was a member of the Clearwater Police SWAT unit that won the 1992 Best Team Award at the prestigious Orange County SWAT Round-Up.

Steffens was also a member of the North Greenwood Neighborhood Patrol Community-Oriented Policing Team that, in 1994, was awarded Pinellas County's highest law enforcement honor, the Allen Moore Gold Badge Award.

Transferring to the Criminal Investigations Division, then-Detective Steffens investigated burglaries and thefts for two years before becoming a robbery/homicide specialist. Upon his promotion to the rank of Police Sergeant in 1997, Steffens was assigned as a Patrol Supervisor before transferring to the Personnel and Training Unit in 2000.

Lieutenant Steffens has extensive training in law enforcement disciplines ranging from DNA, Forensic and Scientific Investigations to Homicide and Violent Crimes schools and Leadership, Training and Instructor techniques.

Steffens was the 1988 Police Recruit Academy Unarmed Defense Award winner and - in addition to departmental Letters of Recognition and a Chief's Unit Citation - he was awarded the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10 Officer of the Year, Instructor of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards.

Lieutenant Steffens assumes command of the Special Operations Section effective immediately.

Sergeant Allaster, who was graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, joined the Clearwater Police Department in December 1994. Schooled in Sex Crimes Investigations, Gas Munitions and Chemical Agent Instructor Techniques, Allaster was a Community-Oriented Policing specialist for five years before assignment to the Field Training Unit, where he served as Acting Sergeant for the past two months.

Sergeant Allaster is a member of the department's Honor Guard, the Emergency Response Team and is a Field Training Officer. Twice named the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #10 Officer of the Month, Allaster was also awarded the Chief's Unit Citation.

Sergeant Allaster will assume command of a Patrol Division squad, effective immediately.

For additional details of biographical information regarding these promotions, please contact Public Information Officer Wayne Shelor at 727-562-4333.

/s/
SID KLEIN
Chief of Police