ANNA MARIA – Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and longtime Anna Maria Unit member JoAnn “JoJo” Parkinson has been reassigned and will spend the final year of her career as a member of the sheriff’s office reporting unit in Lakewood Ranch.
During the April 23 Anna Maria City Commission meeting, Parkinson was honored with a proclamation read aloud by Mayor Mark Short.
“Deputy Parkinson is a 24-year veteran of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, whose career has been defined by professionalism, integrity and an unwavering commitment to public service.
In 2020, she transferred from patrol to the city of Anna Maria, where she quickly became an integral part of our community and a trusted presence among residents, visitors and the whole staff,” Short said.
“Affectionately known as ‘JoJo,’ Deputy Parkinson has earned a reputation for her approachable demeanor, strong work ethic and dedication to community-oriented policing, fostering meaningful relationships and enhancing public trust. Throughout her service in Anna Maria, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and responses to major storm events such as Hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, she consistently demonstrated leadership, resilience and selflessness, placing the needs of the community above her own,” Short said.
“As she enters the final chapter of her distinguished career, Deputy Parkinson leaves behind a legacy of dedication, professionalism and community service that will be remembered and appreciated for years to come. Therefore, be it proclaimed that the city commission does hereby recognize and honor Deputy Parkinson for her outstanding service and her many contributions to the safety and well-being of the community.”
When contacted later, Sgt. Brett Getman, the leader of the Anna Maria Unit, said, “I want to wish JoJo well in the next year. She’s been a fantastic person to work with in Anna Maria. I think we can all agree she’s one of the kindest people you will ever meet, with the biggest of hearts.”
ANNA MARIA – For their dedication and service during and after Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, Sgt. Brett Getman and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Deputies Edward Aleppo, Matt Daugherty, Michael Lesselroth, James McDermott Jr., JoAnn Parkinson and Adam Resnick were honored as the deputies of the month for March.
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short recognized and praised Getman and the Anna Maria Unit deputies during the May 8 city commission meeting, with Getman accompanied by Lt. John Wren.
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short, left, praised Sgt. Brett Getman, center, and his deputies, with Lt. John Wren, right. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Short read aloud the proclamation-like media release provided by the Sheriff’s Office and dated March 25.
“In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastating impact on Anna Maria Island, several deputies from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Island Unit went above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrating exceptional bravery, leadership and commitment to the community,” Short said.
“Hurricane Helene caused significant storm surge, leaving nearly every business and residence on the Island damaged. The city was without power for two days, and cellular service, email, and text communication were unavailable, isolating residents. Roads were flooded, damaged and largely impassable. Amid these challenging conditions, Sgt. Brett Getman, Dep. Edward Aleppo, Dep. Matt Daugherty, Dep. Michael Lesselroth, Dep. James McDermott Jr., Dep. JoAnn Parkinson and Dep. Adam Resnick showed extraordinary dedication to serving the community.
“Before the storm made landfall, Sgt. Getman demonstrated exceptional leadership by preparing ahead of time and coordinating relief efforts. He ensured that essential equipment was properly secured and that his team was ready to face the challenges. His planning allowed the deputies to act swiftly and effectively once the storm had passed,” Short said.
“After the storm, each deputy volunteered to work overtime, sacrificing time with their own families to serve the residents of Anna Maria Island. They responded to numerous calls for service, often putting their safety at risk by traversing through high waters and navigating severely damaged infrastructure. Many homes were inaccessible, yet the deputies pressed forward, checking on stranded individuals and ensuring their well-being.
“One of the most significant contributions they made was re-establishing communication between families. With cellular service down, families off the Island had no way of knowing the status of their loved ones. The deputies went door to door, checking on residents and relaying critical information to concerned family members. This act of compassion and service helped bring peace of mind to many who were left in the dark during a time of crisis.
“For their bravery, leadership and unwavering commitment during and after Hurricane Helene, Sgt. Brett Getman, Dep. Edward Aleppo, Dep. Matt Daugherty, Dep. Michael Lesselroth, Dep. James McDermott, Dep. JoAnn Parkinson, and Dep. Adam Resnick have been named Deputies of the Month for March 2025,” Short said in conclusion.
After receiving a warm round of applause, Getman said, “Thank you, mayor. Thank you, commissioners.”
ANNA MARIA – The city is buying the building and property at 307 Pine Ave. for $1 million to relocate the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office substation.
For the past several years, the city has leased the building and used it as a city hall annex for the building department and public works department. The 2,021-square-foot building will be the new headquarters for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Anna Maria Unit led by Sgt. Brett Getman.
The Anna Maria Unit is currently housed in a small area on one side of the nearby city hall building. The building department will return to city hall and the public works office will remain at the rear of the annex.
On Sept. 27, the city received a letter from property owner Lizzie Vann’s attorney offering to sell the building and property to the city. After privately discussing the potential purchase with each city commissioner, Mayor Dan Murphy publicly presented the proposed purchase to the commission on Oct. 19.
Murphy said a commercial property appraiser appraised the value at $1.1 million. He noted Vann’s offer would expire the following day and she wants to close the sale in November.
The city currently pays $55,405 a year to lease the building and property. The lease expires in 2.5 years. Murphy said if the city didn’t buy the building, someone else would, and that would create uncertainty as to whether the city could continue leasing the much-needed space.
Rather than paying more than 5% interest on a 10-year commercial loan, Murphy suggested using a variety of existing city funds for the purchase. He recommended taking $481,851 from the general contingency fund set aside for unanticipated expenses during the 2023-24 fiscal year, leaving $500,000 in remaining contingency funds. He proposed using $268,149 in additional contingency funds allotted for various individual capital improvement projects and using $250,000 earmarked specifically for future land purchases.
Murphy said the cash purchase would leave the city with enough reserve funds to cover 48% of the city’s annual operating costs, well above the 25-30% best practices recommended for coastal communities.
“I don’t see a depreciable impact on our reserves. We’re still in a good financial position with $2.2 million in reserves,” he said, adding that the city’s closing costs would be approximately $1,000.
“I highly recommend we purchase this property while we can. I believe there’s other buyers interested and what do we do in two and a half years when that lease expires?” he said.
Commissioner Robert Kingan said the purchase price equates to less than $500 per square foot, not counting the land.
“To my way of thinking, this is a very advantageous purchase,” he said.
Commissioner Jon Crane said, “The downside to not doing it is who’s going to buy it and what are they going to do there besides kick the city out. I’m all for it.”
“I agree. It definitely seems like a good buy and we definitely need the space,” Commissioner Charlie Salem said.
“It is a very good opportunity for the city and we will still have $2.2 million in reserves,” Commission Chair Mark Short said.
The commission voted 4-0 in favor of the purchase.
The Anna Maria Unit is currently housed in a small portion of the city hall building. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
After the meeting, Sgt. Getman said, “We’re thrilled and excited to move down to the city annex. During holidays and special events, we have nine to 12 deputies here. This will provide us with more adequate space to house our personnel and vehicles.”
ANNA MARIA – After suffering a major heart attack in December, Sgt. Brett Getman is back on duty and again leading the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s (MCSO) Anna Maria Unit.
Getman’s heart attack occurred on Dec. 19. He returned to his full-time law enforcement duties on March 29.
“On Wednesday, the 29th, I was released to come back to full active duty. It feels great. I was a little anxious about getting back to work for the first time in a couple months, but I love being out here in Anna Maria. I love the citizens. I love the businesses. I have a great relationship with everybody, so it’s good to be back to what I like to call my second home,” Getman said.
When his heart attack occurred, Getman was on duty, filling out a report and working in the MCSO satellite office in the city hall building. Deputy Jared Leggett was also in the office at that time and his quick actions likely saved Getman’s life.
Lifesaving actions
On Jan. 3, Getman and Leggett participated in a press conference held at city hall.
“I came back to the office and started doing my report. I was sitting at the desk typing and everything just went black,” Getman said during the press conference. “Thank God Deputy Leggett was in the office with me. If he wasn’t there, I would not be here. The medics treated me quickly and transported me to Blake (HCA Florida Blake Hospital in Bradenton).”
Getman referred to his heart attack as a ‘widowmaker’ – the type of heart attack that occurs when the heart’s largest artery is blocked.
Deputy Jared Leggett and Sgt. Brett Getman shared their stories during a Jan. 3 press conference. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the press conference Leggett said, “We do a lot of our reports in our cars. On this day, I went back to the office. We started having a conversation about what we were going to charge the defendant with. Just after we finished our conversation, he fell out of his chair. At first, I thought he was having a seizure. I checked for a pulse. He didn’t have one. I started CPR immediately and started doing chest compressions.
“On the desk, where he sits, was the AED (defibrillator). I grabbed the AED after two rounds of CPR. I hit the shock button and gave him his first round and started CPR again. About five or six minutes in, Sgt. Tommy Fraser from the Holmes Beach Police Department showed up and was able to relieve me on CPR so I could go get a VBM (breathing device) and start working on his airway. I had one in my truck.”
Leggett was a firefighter and an EMT before he joined the sheriff’s office 11 years ago.
Lifestyle changes
While standing outside of city hall Friday morning, Getman discussed his return to work, his recovery and the lifestyle changes he’s made.
“I’ve dropped a significant amount of weight. I live off chicken, fish and a lot of vegetables. I’m drinking a lot of water and staying hydrated – no soda and no carbonization whatsoever. I’m exercising and walking a couple miles a day. It’s a definite lifestyle change, but when you’re given that second chance you don’t want to take it for granted,” he said.
Getman’s heart attack reshaped his outlook on life.
“It changes a person. It changed me wholeheartedly. You look at a lot of things differently. You don’t take things so seriously and you don’t let the little things bother you anymore. You just can’t. You just move on. I’m thankful every day that I can wake up and come back to work and look at the ocean and spend time with my family and see everybody,” Getman said.
“It’s cliché to say you’re thankful, but I can’t thank Jared enough for being there when he was –
and West Manatee Fire Rescue and Sgt. Fraser from Holmes Beach, Doctor Baig and all the medical staff. You’re indebted to them for the rest of your life. It’s still emotional at times, when you sit back and think about it, but life goes on and you’ve got to live it,” he said.
Getman acknowledged there’s a certain amount of stress associated with being the leader of a law enforcement unit.
“Thankfully, I have a good administration that gives me a lot of support. They are taking on more of the workload that I used to carry. With that, I’ll be able to manage everything else out here just like I used to and it will be just fine,” he said.
Getman’s return coincides with the Island’s peak tourist season.
“The city’s busy. It’s nice to see everybody out and about. It’s nice to see all the activity and all the kids around. I’m just enjoying the scenery out here,” he said.
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