GCSC Inducts Public Safety Heroes into Hall of Fame

Press Release from Katie McCurdy

Panama City, FL– On Monday, December 11, 2023, Gulf Coast State College inducted its third class into the Public Safety Hall of Fame, recognizing five individuals who have demonstrated commitment and service in public safety.

These five individuals were nominated by their peers from various agencies in Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties. Today, we celebrated them for their selfless contributions that went above and beyond the call of duty.

The following individuals were honored

1. Major Rick Anglin, Bay County Sheriff’s Office

Major Anglin Rick Anglin is a lifelong resident of Bay County and began his service in the Corrections field in 1990. He started his career with the Florida Department of Corrections as a Probation Officer, and was promoted through the ranks at several prison facilities, eventually serving as a Correctional Services Administrator in the Central Office. After serving as Assistant Warden at Jefferson Correctional Facility, Rick was promoted to Warden at Washington Correctional Facility. For the past fifteen years, he has served Bay County, first as the Corrections Manager, and then as Warden of the Bay County Jail, rising to the position of Major of Judicial Services. He graduated from Mosley High School, is a Gulf Coast graduate, and holds two degrees from Florida State University, where he earned a B.S. in Criminology and an M.S. in Executive Management. Rick is known for his commitment to excellence and continued dedication to public safety.

2. José A. Cantres, Bay County Emergency Medical Services

José A. Cantres retired from Bay County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in 2023 after twenty-four years of service, and has been a resident of Bay County since 1996. Before pursuing his EMS career, he served twenty-one years in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of Technical Sergeant. After graduating from the Gulf Coast EMS Program, José began his service as a Bay County Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), where he also served as a field training officer for new EMS employees, and mentored EMT students who followed in his path. José is known for his long-time commitment to fellow first responders as a peer-support advocate, which was exemplified by his service on the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team. José is an outstanding public servant who served both his community and his country.

3. Chief Michael “Mike” Jones, Bay District Schools Police Department

Mike Jones began his career as an officer with the Panama City Police Department in 1976. He held several roles in law enforcement during his career, working with the Bay County Sheriff’s Office from 1999 until 2001, and with the Cedar Grove Police Department from 2001 until 2006. Mike became the Chief of Police for Bay District Schools in August 2006, where he remained until retirement in May 2022, having served more than forty-six years as a law enforcement officer. Mike is known throughout Bay County as “Salvage Santa” for his service over the past thirty years of restoring bicycles and providing them to underprivileged children. Mike is also known for his selfless heroism: In 2010, he successfully thwarted an active-shooter event during a Bay District School Board meeting.

4. Carrie Lindsey, Springfield Police Department

After moving to Bay County in 1982, Carrie Lindsey began her career in telecommunications the following year with the Springfield Police Department, where she served as the Telecommunications Manager until her retirement in March 2020. Carrie also served her country as a member of the United States Army Reserves for fourteen years. During her thirty-seven-year public safety career, Carrie embodied the spirit of commitment and compassion to the Bay County community, especially during the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. Her spiritual beliefs are reflected in her becoming an ordained minister, and her belief in personal growth and education are evidenced by her earning a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Troy University. Carrie is known by her former co-workers for her kindness, and by the community as a lifeline for the many people she served during her tenure with the City of Springfield.

5. Chief Robert “Bobby” Richardson, Sr., Panama City Fire Department

Robert “Bobby” Richardson, Sr., was born in Millville and served this community for thirty-three years with the Panama City Fire Department, where he was Fire Chief from 1974 to 1994. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest fire chief in Florida. The Chief’s guidance and vision brought about the establishment of the Panama City Fire Training Academy. His mission was to ensure that firefighters were equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to protect their community, its citizens, and themselves. Chief Richardson was a member of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, and received gubernatorial appointments to the State Fire Board and to the Florida State Building Codes and Standards Division. During his career, he was recognized as Bay County Firefighter of the Year, Florida’s Firefighter of the Year, and later as the State’s Fire Chief of the Year. His involvement with the Panama City Exchange Club, the Rotary Club, and the Boy Scouts further reflected his dedication to Bay County.

Gulf Coast State College congratulates these exceptional individuals for their unwavering dedication to public safety and community service.

Established in April 2018, the GCSC Public Safety Hall of Fame serves as a tribute to exemplary men and women in public safety, recognizing excellence across multiple public safety sectors, including communications, corrections, fire service, emergency medical services (EMS), and law enforcement. The Hall of Fame is housed in the Public Safety and Emergency Operations Center building on the North Bay Campus.