Douglas Goerke, a Long Island native and son of a U.S. Navy veteran, faced early adversity with the loss of his mother at age nine. Driven by a desire to serve, he began volunteering as a firefighter and Advanced EMT at eighteen before pursuing a career in law enforcement.

He joined the Orlando Police Department in 2001 and rose to Deputy Chief, serving in nearly every division, including Homeland Security Task Forces and SWAT. He also led units such as Tactical Patrol, Intelligence, and Professional Standards, and co-chaired the Orange Orlando Urban Area Security Initiative.

Goerke spent 14 years on the Honor Guard and SWAT Team, including duties as a Tactical Paramedic. He has spoken at numerous law enforcement and emergency management conferences and participated in national counterterrorism workshops.

In 2022, he became Chief of Police for the St. Cloud, FL Police Department. He holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Liberty University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. His honors include Outstanding Command Officer of the Year (2018) and leadership roles in multiple professional associations. He credits his success to his mentors, close friends, and most of all, his wife Jane and daughter Lauren.