Mary Floyd Miller made history as the first female captain at the Midway Police Department’s history. She was born in Gadsden County with maternal and paternal family roots in Quincy. She was raised in Albany, Ga., but moved to the Big Bend area when she was a junior in high school.
The James S. Rickards High School graduate continued her education at Troy State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminology with a minor in Psychology. She went on to earn a Master of Social Work degree from Florida A&M University and a PhD Candidate Status in Public Safety Leadership from Capella University. Miller started her law enforcement career at Tallahassee Community College Police Department in 2009.
“This was my first job out of the academy, “ Miller said.
After TCCPD, she worked for the Tallahassee Police Department. She later became a licensed private investigator and opened her own private investigations firm, Floyd & Associates Investigative Solutions.
“I investigated an array of cases ranging from financial crimes to murder and beyond,” Millser said.
Miller also worked as an investigator with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulations where she investigated claims from constituents about contractors doing work without the proper license.
In 2013, Chief Jerome Turner hired Miller as the Captain for Midway Police Department. She worked for the Midway Police Department from 2013-2017. Miller said one of the reasons she left law enforcement was because she didn’t want to continue subjecting her children to the fear of whether or not she would make it home at the end of her shift.
She has a 15-year old son, a 27 year old daughter, and a 5 year old grandson.
“One night in particular, my son was crying uncontrollably.” Miller shared about her son who was 4 at the time. “He said, ‘I will go to work for you so you could stay safe.’ That truly broke my heart as a mom.”
Miller said that same night, she encountered a murder suspect from Panama City.
“He was hiding behind a couch in a closet.” Miller said of the murder suspect. “It’s almost like my son could feel something was going to happen to me that night.”
She eventually left law enforcement all together.
Miller, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is currently a school social worker at Gadsden County High School. She provides various types of counseling including IEP counseling, social skills, grief, anger management, individual and family counseling. She also connects students with valuable resources throughout the community and beyond.
“I love school social work,” Miller said. “The hours are great and the reward of helping students grow through life and happenstance makes it all worthwhile.”
Miller said the long hours were another reason she left law enforcement. While working those hours, she wasn’t able to spend as much time with her children and sometimes had to miss out on important events to protect the streets.
In addition to being a school social worker, she is also a law student at Florida State University College of Law, and is set to graduate on May 5.
“My passion and purpose is to help others with estate planning and probate matters to include wills and trusts.” Miller said. “It is my heartfelt desire to continue to pave the way for others and make a difference in the lives of everyone I encounter.”
Erin Hill – Gadsden County News Service