Deputy Chief David England '88
"Whatever you do in life, do your very best." Deputy Chief David England remembers hearing these words from a guest speaker at JCS, when he was a senior back in 1988. They had an impact on his life and even helped direct the course of his future. That year, JCS had brought in a pilot, who flew the Columbia space shuttle, to speak to students and after hearing these words of wisdom, David began to apply them to everything he did.
After graduation, he attended Palm Beach State College for two years and then went on to obtain a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Florida State University. During his time at college he studied and worked as a bank teller but always remembering the words he heard at JCS. He made the connection that by doing his very best at whatever the task may be, he was building a reputation of integrity that would later lead to excellent references and ultimately a career in law enforcement. David went on to serve on the Largo Police Department for five years and in 1998 he joined the Jupiter Police Department. He later obtained a master's degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and now serves as second-in-command under the JPD Chief of Police. In his position, he is in charge of several divisions of the department including Road Patrol, Special Operations and Administrative Services.
Today, Deputy Chief England visits JCS regularly as part of the excellent relationship between the Jupiter Police Department and the school. He enjoys the public outreach aspect of his job and shares that it is so important to be able to engage with organizations in the community, like JCS, as well as other schools both public and private. He is proud as a member of the JPD to partner with other law enforcement organizations in an effort to keep people safe from crime. Just this summer, Jupiter Christian was honored to host the JPD for Active Response Training on the West Campus.
In addition to his work serving the community in his professional role, David has also been involved locally with the Boy Scouts for the last six years. Before that he coached flag football with the Jupiter Tequesta Athletic Association (JTAA) always finding it rewarding to be able to have an impact on the youth in his community. When speaking to young people today, he shares about the importance of integrity and tells them, "Don't be afraid to work hard. You have to have a plan and a goal for your life and along the way, you will often need to evaluate where you are and make changes, if necessary, to reach your goal." He goes on to tell them, "As a young person, it is vital to have a mentor, someone who has been there before, who you trust, and who shares your common beliefs." He encourages them to surround themselves with good people along the way who will have a positive impact on their life.
Deputy Chief England and his wife Karen will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this fall and they have two sons, Christian and Chandler. For their family, faith in God is at the center of their household. He and Karen have attended Christ Fellowship, originally at the Gardens Campus and today at the Jupiter location, for more than 20 years and has been involved in many of the public safety fellowships at the church. He and his wife are strong Christians and in their spare time they enjoy going as a family to see some of their favorite Christian bands, such as For King and Country and Skillet, perform faith-filled songs that offer praise to God.
In his capacity today as Deputy Chief, as well as his role with the Boy Scouts, David embodies a servant leader who supports and encourages others. From the young people he mentors to new officers joining the force, the message is the same, "Whatever you do in life, do your very best."