Donnie Winston — Instructor Profile

About Donnie Winston

Lieutenant Winston began his career in public service in 1989. He served as a Firefighter Paramedic for the City of Ocala, Fire Department until April of 1995, when he began his career in law enforcement. Starting as a patrol deputy, he later became a Field Training Officer (F.T.O.). He served as an F.T.O. for 3 years until becoming a bike patrol deputy. He then accepted a transfer into the property crimes division as a detective. After serving a short time in property crimes, he was transferred into the Major Crimes Unit.

During Lieutenant Winston’s tenure in the Major Crimes Unit he reached the level of First Grade Detective. While spending 3 ½ years in the Major Crimes Unit he worked an array of cases which included Homicides, Suicides, Sex Crimes, Arsons and Robberies.

He then took an assignment of investigating a subject from St. Lucie, County. During this three months investigation he had to not only investigate but also conduct undercover roles to apprehend a subject who was responsible for committing burglaries around the State.

He assisted in heading up an Arson Task Force in the south end of Marion County. At the conclusion of the Arson Task Force investigation he was reassigned to the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team. This is an under cover narcotics unit, where he worked street level narcotics and vice. After approximately one year he was transferred to the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area). While working in this unit he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and supervised the unit. Lieutenant Winston was then promoted from the rank of Sergeant to his current rank of Lieutenant and became the HIDTA Initiative Commander. Lieutenant Winston was responsible for four Sheriff’s Office Agents, four Ocala Police Department Agents, two FDLE Agent and two DEA Agents. This unit conducts long term undercover investigations into drug trafficking organizations. After nine years of undercover and investigative work Lieutenant Winston was transferred to the Major Crimes Unit, where now oversees 14 detectives, and two sergeants.

Lieutenant Winston currently holds a Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University. And has been teaching with University of North Florida, Institute of Police Technology and Management since 2009.