Christopher Powell

I am currently a Police Officer for the City of Plantation.  I have served in Patrol and am currently a member of the department’s Training Unit, as a department instructor.  As a department instructor, I am certified in Firearms, Vehicle Operations, Defensive Tactics, and First Aid/CPR.  I am also certified in TASER, D.U.I., and Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA).  In 2013, I became a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).  A DRE is used during D.U.I. arrests that involved possible drug use, to determine if the drug is psychoactive at the time of the arrest.  I am currently the only DRE for my department and one of a select few in the county.

I am a current member of the Hostage Negotiation Team.  I have been involved in several negotiations that were successful, where I was the lead negotiator.  Our team trains monthly in various physiological disorders and Crisis Intervention.  Many police/citizen interactions involve people with mental illness and often in crisis.  Having the ability to recognize mental illness and assess the level of interaction/skill needed to bring the situation to a successful ending and getting them the help they need.

Additionally, I am an adjunct instructor at the Broward Police Academy.  As an instructor, I enjoy teaching new police officers/deputies the fundamentals of police standards,  with hopes of providing them with knowledge needed for a safe and successful career in law enforcement.

I received my Bachelors Degree from Florida Atlantic University in Political Science (Cum Laude) with a minor in Business Law.  For my Masters Degree, I am proud to say that I am a Shark alumni.  My degree is in Law and Policy (Summa Cum Laude).  I had a great experience with both my fellow students and faculty.  

I am married to my lovely wife, Christina.  We have two children that are very active in football and competitive cheerleading.  Needless to say, we stay busy and on the go.  

Last fun fact, I play guitar for Plantation's Police Department’s band, the "Fuzz".  Playing guitar has been a passion of mine since I was young.  Having the opportunity to play in a department band to humanize the badge is a fantastic opportunity.  Make sure to come say hello if you ever come to a City of Plantation event we are playing at.