Daytona Beach, FL - Volusia County Beach Safety Director Ray Manchester will transition to a new role with the county's corrections division beginning January 25th. The move comes after a 37-year career on the beach, beginning as a lifeguard when he was 17.
Manchester's new role will be as lead investigator in the corrections division – paving the way for the change in leadership at beach safety. He'll be available in a mentoring role for the new beach safety director once the position is filled. “Since my first day as a lifeguard almost 37 years ago, I have considered myself very lucky to love my job and make a career out of it,” said Manchester. “While I’m excited for my new position at corrections, I will miss beach safety and I will be available as a resource if needed.”
Manchester became triple certified as a law enforcement officer, lifeguard, and EMT in 1996. It was part of a county program to cross-train beach officers in multiple disciplines to enhance safety and make the officers more versatile. In 2014, he was promoted to deputy chief of operations and took over as director in September 2016.
Manchester, during his tenure as beach safety director, guided the division’s beach safety ocean rescue through two consecutive reaccreditations by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation.
