Emelina Vaughn

I graduated from the University of South Florida in August of 2021 with my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in criminology in just three years with no college credits prior to starting. After graduating I started working at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office as a Communications Officer also known as a 911 dispatcher. While working for the Sumter County Sheriff's Office I started taking courses at St. Petersburg College to complete my crime scene certification which I just completed in July. In January I started classes to receive my master's degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of North Dakota. I will have completed said master's program in May of next year. I now work for the Pasco Sheriff's Office as a Forensic Investigator. I conduct crime scene investigations to locate, identify, preserve, photograph, and prepare collected evidence. While I am not working as a Forensic Investigator I work at Adventure Island as an Asst. Supervisor of Aquatics who is solely trusted to lead a part of the amusement park and handle first aid calls that include seizures, rescues, faints, heat exhaustion, and trauma cuts

In November of 2021, I started my career in law enforcement first as a Communications Officer also known as a 911 dispatcher at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. My day-to-day consisted of working in a highly stressed and fast-paced environment where I receive calls, dispatch emergency vehicles to emergency locations as necessary, advise callers on the best course of action while on the line, prioritize emergency situations as needed, and transfer any non-emergency calls as required. In January 2023 I decided to take my skills and knowledge elsewhere and started working as a Forensic Investigator for the Pasco Sheriff's Office. Here I conduct crime scene investigations to locate, identify, preserve, photograph, and prepare collected evidence to establish and maintain the chain of custody and for submission to crime laboratories for analysis. I also locate, develop, preserve, and collect latent prints at crime scenes using fuming techniques, powders, chemicals, photographic techniques, and alternate light sources. Testify in depositions and court proceedings on the methods and procedures used at crime scene investigations and evidence obtained during the investigative process.

I am currently in the middle of obtaining my master's degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of North Dakota. My current GPA is 3.0 and currently on track to complete this program in the May of next year.