After 25 years as the Public Information Officer for two St. Lucie County Sheriffs, Mark Weinberg will retire today.
Having joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1991, under then Sheriff R.C. “Bobby” Knowles, Weinberg has worked as the conduit between the agency and various media that at times has spanned across the U.S.
“Mark has earned a well-deserved reputation as a Public Information Officer who responds quickly, credibly and comprehensively to media inquiries,” said Sheriff Mascara. “It is critically important that the St. Lucie Sheriff’s Office communicate accurately, in detail and in a timely fashion, with the public about matters of public safety, and Mark has helped us do that each and every day.”
Weinberg has written more than 3,000 news releases for the Sheriff’s Office and was the first person with news media experience to serve in the PIO role. This experience added a great deal of credibility and focus to his dealings with the news media, said Sheriff Mascara.
In addition to news releases, Weinberg also edits the quarterly agency newsletter and the agency’s annual report. He has been involved in dozens of high profile cases, including the Escobedo Turnpike Murders and the tragic death of Sergeant Gary Morales, both of which gained national media exposure. He also served in the Emergency Operations Center during the 2004 hurricanes as part of the team that kept media and residents informed about recovery efforts.
Prior to his role as PIO, Weinberg covered local government for weekly and daily newspapers, radio and television stations in Florida and across the Treasure Coast. He also served as Director of Governmental Affairs for Thomas J. White, developer of St. Lucie West, which later became Core Communities.
Taking over for Weinberg as PIO for the Sheriff’s Office is Bryan Beaty, a lifelong resident of St. Lucie County, said Sheriff Mascara.
Beaty comes to the Sheriff’s Office after 12 years at Indian River State College where he developed employee training programs, coordinated the College’s state legislative affairs program, served as the assistant to College President Edwin R. Massey and led the state and national marketing efforts for the Treasure Coast Public Safety Training Complex. He is a certified law enforcement officer who previously volunteered as a member of the Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Unit.
“Deputy Beaty brings to the agency a long history of working with the media, leading marketing and public relations efforts and a strong tie to our community,” said Sheriff Mascara. “He will effectively build off the solid foundation left by Mark and help take our agency to new levels of community outreach and engagement with the media.”
ABOUT THE SHERIFF:
The Florida Constitution establishes the Office of the elected County Sheriff who is responsible for preserving the peace, carrying out the orders of Florida courts and the Board of County Commissioners, and providing deputies at court sessions and meetings of the Board of County Commissioners. The Sheriff is the chief correctional officer of the county. Sheriff Ken J. Mascara is elected by the people of St. Lucie County and is accountable to them.
