Copy of Our Leadership

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Board of Directors

Ross Wolf Orange County Sheriff Policing police

Reserve Chief Deputy Ross Wolf, Ed.D., M.P.A., CHPP, CVPL

Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office

President, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Dr. Ross Wolf currently serves as Reserve Chief Deputy with the Orange County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office, and as Associate Provost and Professor at the University of Central Florida. Ross has over 30 years of experience as a full-time and reserve deputy, and has served in patrol, as a Field Training Officer, specialized patrol, and criminal investigations as a detective. He was appointed to and serves on the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Police Administration Committee, and on the National Sheriffs' Association (NSA) Outreach Committee and Reserve Law Enforcement Subcommittee. He is a Certified Homeland Protection Professional (CHPP), Certified Volunteer Policing Leader (CVPL), and has authored over fifty refereed articles, professional articles, book chapters, and books on police interviewing, police administration and management, reserve and volunteer policing, police use of force, tourism policing, and international policing. In addition to his work with police agencies throughout the United States, he has worked with the police in the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, Russia, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Singapore. In addition to other law enforcement awards, he has received the Orange County Sheriff's Office Administrative Excellence Award, Sheriff's Citation, and Distinguished Service Medal. He has been presented with the United States "Daily Point of Light" Award, the National Sheriffs' Association "Medal of Merit" Award, the "J. Edgar Hoover Memorial Gold Medal for Distinguished Public Service" from the American Police Hall of Fame, and the US Presidential "Lifetime Call to Service” Award for his work with volunteer and reserve policing.

Harold Wax, CPP, PCI, CFCI, CTIO

Reserve Police Officer - Lafayette (LA) Police Department

Auxiliary Sergeant - Ontario Provincial Police

1st Vice President and Membership Chair, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Harold Wax began his volunteer law enforcement career as an Auxiliary Police Constable in Ontario, Canada with the Ontario Provincial Police in 1996 and has served in various roles including Unit Commander, Regional Sergeant Major, and Inspector; and is currently assigned as an Auxiliary Sergeant to the Highway Safety Division. Harold also serves as a commissioned peace officer in the United States, having previously served as a Reserve Deputy Marshal with the Lafayette (Louisiana) City Marshal's Office, and now serves with the Lafayette Police Department as a Reserve Police Officer. In his day job, Harold works for PepsiCo as Global Security Director. In this role, Harold leads corporate security and crisis management activities for PepsiCo Beverages and PepsiCo Foods (Frito Lay/Quaker) in Canada and supports North American security operations. Harold holds Board Certifications in Security Management as well as Investigations with the American Society for Industrial Security. Harold is also a Board Certified Financial Crimes Investigator and is a Certified Counter-Terrorism Information Officer. Harold holds membership in good standing with ASIS, ACFE, IAFCI, IACP, CACP, NSA, and is currently the Sgt-at-Arms of the Private Security Liaison Committee of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. In 2008 Harold was named Financial Institution Investigator of the Year by the Central Canada Chapter of the IAFCI. In 2018, Harold was awarded the Province of Ontario Auxiliary Policing Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct. In 2019, Harold was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers by the Governor General of Canada. In 2020, Harold was named the Security Director of the Year by Canadian Security Magazine. In 2021, Harold was ranked #4 globally by IFSEC on the Security & Fire Executive Global Influencer List. Harold currently serves as 1st Vice President of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance (VLEOA).

Reserve Lieutenant Jesus "Jay" Rosario
Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office

2nd Vice President and Fundraising Chair, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Jay Rosario currently serves as Reserve Lieutenant with the Orange County (Florida) Sheriff's Office, having previously served as a Reserve Sergeant, Reserve Corporal, Reserve Deputy II and Reserve Deputy I. He is also an auto industry entrepreneur, and serves as the vice chairman of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD), a trade and advocacy organization. He is among an elite few to be nominated for the Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award. He is the first Hispanic entrepreneur to receive Black Enterprise magazine's Rising Star Award. He completed the National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) Dealer Academy before he turned 26 and became the youngest Hispanic dealer in Ford’s history when he purchased Rolling Hills Ford in Clermont, Fla., in 1998. He is a donor and contributor to schools and law enforcement and funds a program that provides lawyers for juveniles accused of breaking the law. As a member of the Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office Reserve Unit, he was recognized with the Medal of Valor and the Reserve Deputy of the Year award for his role in assisting with the rescue of hostages held by a terrorist inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in June 2016. Rosario’s overall volunteerism was honored by President Barack Obama in 2016 with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy recognized his contributions to education.

Captain Marc Spigel
Framingham MA Auxiliary Police

Co-Founder & Treasurer, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Marc began his interest in law enforcement as a Newton Police Explorer in 1972. He first volunteered as an auxiliary officer for the Newton (Massachusetts) Police in 1979, and later moved to become a Framingham Police Auxiliary officer in 1985. With the Framingham Auxiliary Police, Marc was promoted to Sergeant in 1989, Lieutenant in 1993 and took command of the unit as Captain in 1998. Marc also joined the Wellfleet Police Department in 2015 as a Seasonal Officer. Marc was a co-founder of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance in 2009 and the Massachusetts Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Association in 2011, and is a member of the Massachusetts Citizen Corps Council. Marc was selected in 2011 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to be the State Advocate for Massachusetts police volunteers. Marc earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1979. He earned his Certified Public Accountant designation in 1982 and works as a financial consultant for a large regional public accounting firm.

Chief Bryan A. Barish
Town of Niagara Special Police

Secretary, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

An Auxiliary Police Officer since 1993, Bryan served as Chief of the Niagara County (NY) Auxiliary Police from 2007-2017 and currently serves as Chief of the Town of Niagara Special Police and as a certified instructor at the New York State Police Officer Training Academy. Bryan also served as the Director of Recruiting, Public Relations, Treasurer, Secretary, and Director of the Auxiliary Police Training Academy. He also previously served (9 years) as a Special Forces K-9 Officer for the Niagara County (NY) Sheriff’s Office. A Certified New York State Peace Officer and Certified as a General Topics instructor through the New York State Department of Criminal Justice (DCJS) which includes Peace Officer Training. Served as an Officer, Captain, Advisor and Director for the K-9 division of the Buffalo Special Police since 1997. Graduated Northwood University in Midland, MI with bachelor’s degrees in Business Management and Marketing with a minor in accounting. He has worked as a professional dog trainer since 1995 and has been certifying police and working dogs since 2005. Barish has been a member of the VLEOA (Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance) since its inception in 2012 and has served as the Secretary and Director on the board since 2015. He is a past president of the Niagara County (NY) SPCA, and a current board Director and also currently serves as a volunteer Animal Cruelty Investigator.

Lt. Col. David M. Rayburn
Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary (Ret)

VLEOA Co-Founder & Immediate Past President, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Retired as a Lt. Col. after serving for 23 years with the Florida Highway Patrol as an Auxiliary Trooper, David is a Graduate of Western Carolina University with BS in Marketing. He is also a US Navy Viet Nam veteran having served on USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) and USS Catskill (MCS-1). He is a Licensed Commercial Real Estate Broker specializing in shopping center and office building management. David is a founding member and immediate past president of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance. David also serves as a member of the National Sheriffs' Association Reserve Law Enforcement Officers Committee that addresses issues of concern to all volunteer LEO's.

Dr. Matthew Yap, CVPL
Volunteer Special Constabulary, Singapore Police Force and Army Reserves
International Area Director and Board Member, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Dr. Matthew Yap is an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) consultant, and an adjunct faculty member at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU). Matthew has been a volunteer special constabulary rank and file officer in the Singapore Police Force since 2005, and is currently Deputy Superintendent of Police heading the Police Operations Command Center (Emergency hotline) volunteer unit. He is a certified Emergency Response Team (ERT) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Matthew started his career in active military service as a commissioned army officer in 1992 and continues to serve today as a Senior Lieutenant Colonel in the Division Artillery as Strike Brigade Chief of Staff (Reserves). Matthew completed a rotation in United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), in Tampa, Florida for Operation Iraqi Freedom, and also volunteered in the Ministry of Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Operation Center during the national fight against COVID-19. Matthew attended the Singapore Police Command and Staff Course in Perth, Australia and the Singapore Armed Forces Command and Staff course in Singapore. After active duty service in 2005, Matthew was also the Deputy Commander of the Airport Auxiliary Police Force until 2007. Matthew is a Certified Volunteer Policing Leader (CVPL) and published his first book, "Sun Tzu, The Art of War, 30 Ways to Transform," with stories from his police volunteer work, army reserves and business transformation during COVID.

Adam Dobrin, Ph.D., CVPL

Reserve Deputy, St. Lucie County (FL) Sheriff’s Office

Board Member, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Dr. Adam Dobrin is an Associate Professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Dobrin has years of non-profit leadership experience, including co-founding and holding leadership positions in two international health-care policy entities. Through these affiliations he presented his research at the US Capitol for the Congressional Briefing on Juvenile Justice and later the Congressional Briefing Predicting and Preventing Homicide and Other Violence. Dr. Dobrin was an Academic Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, where part of his Fellowship involved overseas travel for an intensive immersion in the world of terrorism, and the ways the political, diplomatic, military, intelligence, and criminal justice systems respond to or prevent it. More recently, he traveled to the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center at New Mexico Tech to become a certified instructor on the prevention and response to suicide bombing incidents. Shifting his research trajectory and personal interests, Dr. Dobrin is currently exploring various issues relating to volunteer policing. In both academic and professional settings, he has published numerous articles and presented at conferences on volunteer policing topics. Dr. Dobrin won his University’s first Presidential Award for Outstanding Faculty-Led Community Engagement for Engaged Service in 2017 for his volunteer work as a road patrol deputy with his local sheriff’s office’s reserve unit. He is also a Certified Volunteer Policing Leader (CVPL).

Auxiliary Superintendent Frank Fernandes
Toronto Police Service

Board Member, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

An Auxiliary Police Officer with the Toronto Police Service (formerly, Metropolitan Toronto Police Force) since 1971, Frank currently holds the rank of Auxiliary Superintendent, the highest active rank for Auxiliary Members of the Service. Former Volunteer Firefighter, past President of the Rotary Club of Vaughan; former Chair of the Blue Knights Toy Ride Committee; Co-Founder of the Motorcycle Ride for the Prevention of Child Abuse; Founder of the Toronto Auxiliary Police Toy Drive; Patron of the Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organizations; and past Chair of St. John Ambulance Toronto Branch. He is a recipient of numerous awards and honours, including the Ontario Auxiliary Police Medal, both the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship, St. John Ambulance Long Service Medal; the Order of St. John Medal; the Paul Harris Fellowship Award; and the Province of Ontario’s highest honour, the Order of Ontario. Frank is also an active member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police and the International Police Association, Member of the Kentucky colonels commission, and in the business world is the President of Quality Liquid Packaging in Toronto.

Carolyn Parker
Assistant Commandant (ret), Royal Cayman Islands Special Constabulary

Board Member, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Carolyn's policing career began with the Randall County Sheriff' Office in Texas, where she worked narcotics. She later attended the Amarillo Police Academy and became a certified Texas Peace Officer and worked win the juvenile division of the Amarillo Police Department. After relocating to the Cayman Islands, she joined the Royal Cayman Islands Special Constabulary and worked continuously to improve the organization's relationship with the RCI Police Service. She moved up the ranks from Special Constable to Assistant Commandant, the rank she retired with in 2015. During her service she worked with the training department on the process of all special constable applicants in 2008, including one class graduation in Cayman Brac; one of the three Cayman Islands. She has been presented with the "Police Colonial Long Service Medal" and the "Queen's Jubilee Medal" during her service. She has served as a member of the VLEOA since its inception, and has represented the RCIPS Special Constabulary in conferences in the Bahamas, Victoria (Canada), St. Croix, Orlando (Florida), Avon Park (Florida), Tampa (Florida), Lafayette (Louisiana), Manchester (UK), and Toronto (Canada). She is also a member of the Texas Narcotics Officer Association.

Major Jeff Peeler
Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary

Board Member, Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance

Jeff has served 34 years with the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary which has 240+ members, and has served at all ranks including Trooper, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and currently the most senior Major in the State. He is a member of the State Staff as Troop Commander of Troop K (Turnpike units) and involved in all areas of policing including patrolling, recruiting, training, financials, details, committees, and more. He has volunteered 2000 or more hours each of the last six years since retiring from Publix Supermarkets after 38 years (31 years in management). 32,600 miles patrolled last year. Major Peeler was nominated for and selected as Auxiliary of the Year in 2013. He is a member of the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA), and serves as an active member and speaker at the national summer NSA conferences in the VLEOA Reserve Policing Roundtable for last four years. He is a member of the Blue Knights International Motorcycle Club, six-year committee member of the Central Florida annual Blue Knights Law Ride to help raise funds for officers injured or killed in the line of duty, raising over $27,500 since being chairman last three years. He is also a founding member of the VLEOA and proud supporter since 2009, and has attended every VLEOA annual training conference since inception.

Board of Advisors

Wayne Bobb-Semple
Special Constabulary, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service

Deputy Chief Stephan Brody

Dallas (TX) Police Department – Reserve Division

Dr. Phaik Kin Cheah
Lance Corporal, Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve
Associate Professor, Faculty of Arts and Social Science,
UniversitiTunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak, Malaysia

Scot Cuthbertson

VLEOA Co-Founder

El Paso County (CO) Sheriffs Office Reserve Unit