FDSA Board Spotlight: VCSO Chief Deputy John Creamer
Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy John Creamer comes from a long lineage of first responders and public servants. His father was a 30-year firefighter for the City of Tallahassee and his mother worked for Florida State University for more than 30 years. His grandfather worked as a firefighter and police officer during World War II and his uncle served as deputy chief for the Tallahassee Police Department.
One could say that Chief Creamer was destined for a life of public service and helping Florida’s citizens.
“Growing up around my dad in the fire station, there was always the excitement of watching him respond to calls and also riding along with him to help people,” Chief Creamer said. “I also had an uncle who worked with the Tallahassee Police Department and I was eventually drawn to that because there were so many different ways to help people through law enforcement.”
Chief Creamer served with the Tallahassee Police Department for 14 years and with the Daytona Beach Police Department for nine years before joining newly elected Sheriff Mike Chitwood at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office in January 2017.
Chief Creamer says that working with a sheriff’s office is a different experience from working in other law enforcement agencies, something he first learned when he had the chance to work with a longtime family friend.
Larry Campbell, the late sheriff of Leon County, served in the Marines alongside Chief Creamer’s father. Campbell played a major role in Chief Creamer’s life and he considers Sheriff Campbell a legacy. When Chief Creamer was with TPD, he had the chance to work with Sheriff Campbell as part of a county-wide task force and says it opened his eyes to some of the differences between municipal law enforcement and county law enforcement.
“The way he conducted himself was different than any police chief,” Chief Creamer said. “I’m so blessed to be in the position I’m in and to wear this green uniform.”
Late last year, Chief Creamer became involved with the Florida Deputy Sheriff’s Association after he heard FDSA Executive Director Keith Dean speak at the FSA New Sheriff’s Academy in December. He joined and was later approached by Dean and Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith at the association’s summer conference and was asked to participate on the board.
“I thought it was a wonderful opportunity,” Chief Creamer said. “The FDSA is purely about keeping our deputies safe and providing them with opportunities that a collective bargaining agreement can’t necessarily cover. It’s not a political organization. I was honored to be a part of that conversation.”
Chief Creamer says one of his goals while serving on the board is to raise awareness about the program among Florida’s deputies and helping them understand the role the association can play in their lives.
“I’d like to make sure more deputies know about the FDSA,” he said. “There are a lot organizations that our deputies don’t know exist and I’d like to help get the word out about what a unique organization this is. It strictly represents deputies and it’s here to make their lives easier.”