September 21, 2004
Gary Davidson
Public Information Officer

SHERIFF JOHNSON TAPS TWO FOR PROMOTION 

Extolling the virtues of hard work and dedication, Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson tapped a pair of veteran deputies for promotion Tuesday morning. “These people worked hard to get where they are,” Sheriff Johnson told a large crowd of co-workers moments after promoting Chico Mandizha to the rank of lieutenant and Rick Boltz to the rank of sergeant. 

Between them, Lieutenant Mandizha and Sergeant Boltz have more than 27 years of experience with the Sheriff’s Office. Lieutenant Mandizha, 36, joined the Sheriff’s Office in October 1991. He was promoted to sergeant in 2000. Prior to Tuesday’s promotion, Lieutenant Mandizha supervised the Deltona motorcycle unit. He also was responsible for implementing the agency’s traffic homicide unit several years ago when the responsibility of investigating traffic deaths in Deltona was transferred from the Florida Highway Patrol to the Sheriff’s Office. “It’s an honor and a privilege to present you with your lieutenant’s bars,” Sheriff Johnson told Mandizha during Tuesday’s awards ceremony at the Deputy Stephen Saboda Training Center in Daytona Beach. 

Sergeant Boltz, 51, joined the Sheriff’s Office in April 1990. He has worked road patrol and investigations and is among the Sheriff’s Office’s leaders each year in traffic enforcement and DUI arrests. “You have earned this promotion,” Sheriff Johnson told Boltz. 

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office wasn’t the first law enforcement job for either officer. Lieutenant Mandizha worked for the Daytona Beach Police Department before joining the Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Boltz previously worked at the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Cocoa Police Department.