Michael & Kristy Marden

Their oath to serve extends far beyond the badge.

Michael and Kristy Marden have spent their careers and their marriage rooted in service.

Between them, the couple has more than 55 years of dedication to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO), where they met and discovered a shared calling to help others.

Kristy, who has served nearly 28 years, is the LCSO Chief of Staff. She coordinates special events, serves as the sheriff’s liaison for LCSO Charities and sits on several local boards, including the Women of Caring and the Lake Cares Food Pantry.

The fourth-generation Lake County resident says giving back is simply part of who she is. 

Michael, also approaching 28 years with the sheriff’s office and 30 years in law enforcement overall, serves as a captain and heads up the School Resource Bureau, the largest bureau in the department. His focus is keeping students, faculty and staff safe on campuses across the county.

And his service extends way beyond the badge. 

He also teaches at the University of North Florida and Valencia State College and serves as Executive Director for the Florida Association of School Resource Officers. 

“Our mission is simply to serve others,” he says. “We give back to the community that raised us.”

Together, the Mardens have raised three sons and a daughter in their blended family and are now proud grandparents of two grandchildren . . . and three fur babies. 

Their oldest son serves in the U.S. Marine Corps and their middle son works as a commercial appraiser with the Lake County Property Appraiser’s Office. Their daughter is Assistant Director of Operations for the Lake County Tax Collector’s Office and their youngest son works in the electrical field. 

“We have spent our lives giving back and we raised our kids doing it too,” Michael says. “When we did charity cookouts, we had our kids out running around helping serve people. As they grew up, It has become a part of their life too.”

The couple credits their lasting partnership to patience and setting aside quality time. 

“We still like each other,” Kristy says. “We are still best friends.” 

“Yeah, we still go on dates,” Michael adds. “Even when the kids were little, we made it a point to get away together every six months or so. You have to make time for each other.”

Both describe their marriage as an extension of their life’s purpose to serve. Whether through law enforcement, local boards or volunteerism, their shared mission is to make Lake County stronger.