Ofc. Stephen Simonton is the grateful son of his parents Richard and Margret Simonton. He was homeschooled for the majority of his lower and middle school years and was sent in the footsteps of his siblings to Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God Academy in New York for his high school education. He graduated in 2018, receiving the Help of Christians Award which is the highest award the school offers.

After high school, Stephen has continued to further his education outside the academic realm by starting his own business, becoming the 2019 state champion in Taekwondo in his belt class, going to flight school part-time, and taking on leadership positions in his Church. Stephen is a zealous advocate for community engagement and looks forward to sharing his God given gifts with our wonderful community in DeLand.

It is his honor and privilege to serve in the DeLand Police Department and he hopes to make a lasting and positive influence in our beautiful City of DeLand.

Ofc. Benji Adame story begins in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he was born into a Mexican family whose values shaped him from the start. Hard work, loyalty, and resilience. At the age of twelve, his life shifted when his family moved to Florida, a transition that marked the beginning of his growth into the person he would become.

Adjusting to Florida wasn’t simple. New surroundings, new expectations, and making new friends. By the time he graduated high school in 2018 (University High School) he had already faced challenges that matured him earlier than most. When Benji was twelve, he began working in his uncle’s restaurant (La Hacienda). As the years went by, he was learning every position, from back of house operations, to front of house service. Those years became his real-world classroom, teaching him responsibility, patience, problem-solving, and the ability to stay steady under pressure.

In 2021, all those lessons came full circle when he stepped into the role of managing his parents’ restaurant. Benji took on the weight of running a business, taking leadership role. He learned to lead by example, make difficult decisions, and keep operations smooth even in stressful moments. There were times he had to work from morning to close, no days off and kept pushing forward.

In time, Benji’s path led him toward a different kind of service. Driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact, he joined the Deland Police Department. The transition from restaurants to law enforcement was a drastic change, but the core values remained the same: discipline, integrity, and commitment to others.

From a boy raised in a hardworking family, to a young manager trusted with his family’s livelihood, to a dedicated professional serving the community, Benji’s journey is defined by resilience and determination. At 25, his story is still unfolding.

Ofc. Regina Kimberley Lopez was born in Cordoba, Argentina and came to the United States when she was 12 years old. Ever since Regina was 4, she has loved dancing and has made that dream a reality by becoming a professional dancer.

While in High School she was part of the Professional Innovation Dance Team and competed for all four years. She graduated from University High School in Orange City in 2018.

Regina is very family oriented. She has a 4-year-old son that is her drive and motivation to wake up every day and always give her all in everything she does. Regina is very happy and extremely grateful for the privilege and opportunity that was given to her to be a part of the Deland Police Department.