A policeman for the community – Lieutenant Kenneth Lewis

Lieutenant Kenneth Lewis, of the Havana Police Department, knew he wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement since he was a teenager.

“It was a family thing,” says Lewis. “My family was in law enforcement and corrections. I actually started my career in the Department of Corrections with the State of Florida, and then I decided law enforcement was more what I wanted to do.”

Born and raised in Gadsden County, Lewis graduated from high school at age 17 and went straight into the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in New Jersey, Virginia, and Augusta, Georgia.

Following his military service, Lewis returned home and began his work in corrections.

“I realized corrections wasn’t really going to be for me,” recalls Lewis. “Being locked up eight, sometimes 16 hours a day. So I did the crossover training at the Pat Thomas Law Enforcement Academy. I did all of my training there.”

Lewis also studied at Tallahassee Community College.

Lewis began his career with the Gadsden County Sheriff's Office, working under Sheriffs W. A. Woodham and Morris Young.

Lewis then worked with the Gretna Police Department from 2006-2012 before moving on to Havana Police Department.

“I’ve known Tracy [Smith] for many, many years, and then he became the chief of police here.” says Lewis of how he came to Havana. “I reached out to him when I left Gretna Police Department.”

When asked what he enjoys about the job, Lewis replies: “Honestly, it’s the community policing part. It’s being able to see people in the neighborhood, and you know them. You’re not just riding by looking at people about whom you have no clue. But you can ride in these neighborhoods and you see them, you know them, you wave at them, you stop and talk to them. It’s different when you know them. It’s not just a face, it’s a person.”

In addition to his law enforcement career, Lewis owns a side business.

“I’m a worker. I’ve got to have something going on, so I’ve always had a side job, and about five or six years ago I started a construction business, and I’ve been doing that ever since. So I do construction on my off-days.”

Lewis has one child, a son who graduated from Florida State University and works for an insurance company in Tampa.

Lewis loves hunting, fishing, and playing darts. He also loves to build and fix things, including replacing an attic door in his office and working on the police department vehicles.

“I love the town of Havana,” says Lewis. “Of all the agencies that I’ve worked for, this is the best. They really take care of their people here. They look after you if you’re in need. The town itself looks after us. All the town employees. This is probably the best community I’ve ever worked in, and I don’t just say that because I’m employed here. The community here, they’re nice. It’s a great place. It’s a different world, as I like to say. I’m here to stay as long as they’ll have me.”

Stephen Klein - Gadsden County News Service

A policeman for the community – Lieutenant Kenneth Lewis

Called to care – Lieutenant Khang Bui

Changing the community with positive interaction – Officer Roderek Gainer

Changing the community with positive interaction - Officer Roderek Gainer

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A policeman for the community – Lieutenant Kenneth Lewis

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Called to care – Lieutenant Khang Bui

Changing the community with positive interaction – Officer Roderek Gainer

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