By Roxanne Brown
Commitment to Service Has Shaped Every Chapter of Sergeant Alex Nell
Sergeant Alex Nell
My start as an officer: I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps infantry in 2008. I used what was left of my GI Bill to put myself through the academy while working on weekends. The Leesburg Police Department was among the first agencies I applied to and the first one to offer me a job while I was still in the academy.
Certifications: Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, General Instructor, Tactical Team Leader Development, LockUp-L.E.A.D.S., FBI-LEEDA (SLI), Advanced F.T.O., Line Supervision, ALICE, Field Training Officer and Combat Pistol.
Saving a life: After stopping at a gas station in Leesburg early one morning on shift, I noticed a vehicle parked near me that had begun to roll backwards. An elderly female yelling for help fell. Luckily, I was able to quickly sprint behind the vehicle, throw my body weight into the back of it and stop the vehicle.
Saving a life again: I’d unknowingly be put into another incident of right place, right time. A few weeks ago, after working my scheduled 12-hour shift, I was heading home on CR 48 in Yalaha. After seeing smoke, I saw what looked like flames coming from the roof of a residence. Working together, the homeowner and I secured her two dogs. Thankfully the fire department was then able to extinguish the fire.
A person I look up to: My dad. He’s always been my biggest fan and has always been there as a parent, coach and counselor. He also saved my life when I was about 10. He’s the embodiment of a true hero.
When off duty, you’ll find me: With my wife, Megan and our two sons. Whether doing something adventurous together, going to a theme park, reading or running between different practices or games from the sports my sons are in, there’s always something going on. Any other downtime, I am usually working out or training.
Growing up, I dreamt of being A professional baseball player.
Photo: Nicole Hamel
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Originally from Nogales, Arizona, Roxanne worked in the customer service industry while practicing freelance writing for years. She came on board with Akers Media in July 2020 as a full-time staff writer for Lake & Sumter Style Magazine and was promoted to Managing Editor in October 2023—her dream job come true. Prior to that and after just having moved to Florida in 1999, Roxanne had re-directed her prior career path to focus more on journalism and went on to become a reporter for The Daily Commercial/South Lake Press newspapers for 16 years. Additionally, Roxanne—now an award-winning journalist recognized by the Florida Press Club and the Florida chapter of The Society of Professional Journalism—continues working toward her secondary goal of becoming a published author of children’s books.
