By Cindy Peterson
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Promotes First Woman to Rank of Major
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office recently promoted of Captain Christie Mysinger to the rank of Major, making her the first woman in the agency’s history to hold this position.
With a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, Major Mysinger has been a pioneering figure in Lake County law enforcement. Her journey began in 1991 when she joined the Sheriff’s Office after an initial assignment with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. In 2021, she became the first female captain in the agency’s history. Now, with her appointment to major, she continues to break barriers in law enforcement.
Major Mysinger’s path to leadership was built on hard work, determination, and a lifelong passion for public service. Growing up inspired by TV shows like CHiPs and Adam-12, she initially pursued a career in emergency medical services before deciding to follow her dream of becoming a law enforcement officer.
Her law enforcement career began uniquely—working undercover in Sumter County schools as a teenager, using her petite stature to blend in with students while gathering information for the narcotics unit. That undercover assignment at just 19 years old set the tone for a career defined by dedication and versatility.
Throughout her tenure at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Major Mysinger has held a variety of leadership roles and currently oversees a number of specialized units, including the marine unit, bomb squad, dive team, communications center, animal control, helicopter unit, and more. Her extensive experience, combined with her commitment to professional development, earned her a master’s degree in criminal justice and positioned her to influence positive change within the agency.
“I love my job. I literally wake up and look forward to going to work every day,” Major Mysinger says. “I’m glad I can pave the way for other young women to come up through the ranks. There are many talented young women behind me who will take my place in the future, and that makes me proud of how far we’ve come.”
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Major Mysinger has balanced a successful career with family life. She recently celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with her husband, Tom, a retired captain, and is the proud mother of three children and a new great-grandmother.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also celebrated 28 other promotions as follows:
Promoted to Corporal: Jodi Bowlin, Matthew Drennan, Joshua Faust, Daniel Hart, Mark Johnson, Chris Kessinger, Javier Landa, Austin Pringle, Alberto Rivera, Stephen Rivera, Brian Sadowski, Matthew Smallwood, Zachary Williams
Promoted to Sergeant: Rebecca Bambridge, James Findley, Alexander Kilfoyle, Wayne Madole,, Jarrod Strickland, Adam Tytler
Promoted to Lieutenant: Jonathan Chavis, Gerald Green, Nate Pickens
Appointed to Captain: John Herrell, Thomas McKane, Ron Patton
Appointed to Major: Christie Mysinger, David Pelton
Appointed to Chief Deputy: Glen Hall
Photos shared from Lake County Sheriff’s Office
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.
