Lee Sullivan — Instructor Profile

About Lee Sullivan

Lee Sullivan has been in law enforcement since 1985. Lee Sullivan started his career in corrections with the Levy County Sheriff’s Office. After serving a year he resigned to take a patrol deputy position with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in Ocala, Florida. Upon being hired he was asked to take an undercover assignment.  These assignments lasted almost a year and during the investigation over thirty people were arrested. In addition to that assignment he has been assigned to work undercover in a street crimes unit, and a multi-agency drug taskforce where he worked a variety of undercover assignments. 

During his tenure in the Multi-Agency Drug Task Force he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.  He was reassigned to the Patrol division where he was a field supervisor for approximately a year before going back to the Drug Task Force as a line level supervisor.

After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, he commanded the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit from November 2000 to April 2003.  He was then assigned as the Initiative Commander for the North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area initiative known as UDEST (Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team).  He continued that assignment until being promoted to the rank of Captain in 2005 and began serving as the Assistant Bureau Chief for the Special Investigations Bureau within the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.  The Special Investigations Bureau contains the UDEST initiative along with the Multi-Agency Drug Enforcement Team and the Terrorist Unit.

In 2012 Captain Sullivan transferred to the patrol division and served as a Watch Commander. He continued in that capacity until December and upon the election of a new Sheriff he was reassigned as the Commander of the newly formed Crime Suppression Division which included the street crimes unit, warrants unit and property crimes detectives. After completing the transition of the new Division, Captain Sullivan was transferred back to the patrol division as a Watch Commander where he served until his retirement in 2015.

In addition to his duties as a deputy sheriff with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Lee was also a member of the Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics Team.  He served on the SWAT team for 14 years.  During his tenure, he was assigned as an entry team member, marksman, team leader and assistant commander. 

In 2016 Lee began working for Norwegian Cruise Lines as a Chief Security Officer aboard the Norwegian Star. He continues in that assignment and teaches classes when he is not at sea.

Lee received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Leo University in 2006 with a major in Criminal Justice.  He continued his education as a post graduate student with Saint Leo University and received his Masters Degree in Criminal Justice in 2008. Lee also currently teaches criminal justice classes on line for Saint Leo’s Criminal Justice Program.