
By Cindy Peterson
Lady Lake Police Sergeant Graduates from FBI National Academy

Lady Lake Police Department Sergeant Charles Gehrsitz has graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He is the first officer to be accepted into the academy from the Lady Lake Police Department, joining the ranks of 56,000 law enforcement professionals worldwide who have completed the program since its founding in 1935.
Internationally recognized for its academic excellence, the FBI National Academy offers 10 weeks of advanced training in communication, leadership, and fitness. Participants are seasoned law enforcement leaders selected through a competitive nomination process. Graduates typically return to their agencies to assume senior leadership positions.
Sergeant Gehrsitz, who began his career with the Lady Lake Police Department in 2014, was promoted to Sergeant in 2018 and currently supervises the department’s Criminal Investigations Division.
Lady Lake Police Chief Steve Hunt praised Sergeant Gehrsitz’s achievement, noting his leadership and dedication.
“Sergeant Gehrsitz has excelled as a proactive, productive, and highly effective leader in our department,” said Chief Hunt. “He has taken on responsibilities often handled by lieutenants in larger agencies, developed policy revisions, implemented technology upgrades, and represented our department in public forums. His graduation from the FBI National Academy is a testament to his hard work, professionalism, and commitment to serving the Lady Lake community.”
With Sergeant Gehrsitz’s graduation, the Lady Lake Police Department now has four National Academy graduates: Chief Hunt (Session 238), Deputy Chief Jason Brough (Session 248), Evidence Technician Scott Kolb (Session 239), and Sergeant Gehrsitz (Session 295).
The 295th session included 254 law enforcement officers from 49 states, the District of Columbia, 20 countries, six military organizations, and four federal civilian agencies.
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.