⭐ 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐃𝐀𝐘 ⭐
𝟹𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚝 𝙳𝚎𝚙𝚞𝚝𝚢: 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚊𝚢 𝙶𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚢

In January of this year, Deputy Lindsay Gorney put in her letter of resignation. She’d been with LCSO since 2024 and was a member of the first graduating class at the agency’s academy but was leaving to take a position with the U.S. Marshals Service in her native New York.

And yet, she’s still here patrolling the 3rd Precinct.

“I didn’t want to leave,” she said, explaining that she asked a 3rd Precinct Sergeant if she could withdraw the resignation. “I want to make my career here.”

Born in Bethpage, New York, Lindsay feels a law enforcement career was her destiny. Her father retired from the New York City Police Department after putting in 20 years; two uncles were also NYPD officers, and another uncle is a New York State Trooper.

After graduating from Oyster Bay High School in 2019, Lindsay earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Homeland Security from the University of New Haven in 2022.

Working in the New York State Court Office on Long Island (roughly the equivalent of LCSO’s Court Operations) Gorney’s responsibilities included prisoner transport, courtroom security, and evidence protection.

In 2024, while visiting a friend in Cape Coral, Lindsay was having lunch at Rumrunners when she witnessed LCSO’s Marine Unit in action. “Between seeing their boats, and from what I had been watching on social media, I thought the Lee County Sheriff’s Office would be a great place to work,” Gorney said.

Shortly thereafter she was in the first LE class at LCSO’s academy and began working nights on road patrol in the 3rd Precinct. “I loved it from the beginning,” said Deputy Gorney. “Third precinct is sort of divided between the mainland and the beach. I worked both but fell in love with the beach.”

National Police Woman Day is Sept. 12 and it has significance for Dep. Gorney. “I do feel I have to work more to prove myself to my male counterparts, but I have no doubt about my capabilities,” she said. “It’s why I’m in the gym CrossFit training five days a week to make sure I’m strong enough. I want other deputies to know they can count on me when needed.”

She noted excellent law enforcement role models in Lt. Katie McCann and Sgt. Kendall Tompkins, as well as Dep. Jacquelin Pigott. “They really have their stuff together and I try to learn as much as I can from them,” Dep. Gorney said.

While road patrol can be challenging at times, Dep. Gorney finds it rewarding as well. “Every once in a while, I do feel I’ve made a difference,” she said. “Knowing I did as much as I could that day for the community and for LCSO is a great feeling.”

She’s enjoying road patrol but would one day like to make Sergeant and join either the Intelligence Unit (her area of focus in college) or the agency’s Special Victims Unit.

“I was recently involved in a shaken baby case in Lehigh Acres and it made me aware of the work SVU does. While I would love to be a part of Intelligence, I also like SVU cases,” Dep. Gorney said. “My dad gave me one piece of advice when I started my law enforcement career: ‘Don’t get stale. Take new opportunities whenever they are offered.’ I will remember that.”

As a native New Yorker, 9/11 commemoration ceremonies are near and dear to Dep. Gorney. Her father was a first responder at Ground Zero after the attacks in New York City and has suffered illnesses as a result.

“I was only three months old when 9/11 happened but it’s still significant to me,” she said. “It’s had an impact on my family.” Last year she ran in the Tunnels to Towers Foundation 5K fundraiser in NYC and is doing the same this year in Fort Myers.

Away from work, Lindsay enjoys her gym workouts, reading, and caring for two dogs – a French bulldog and mini-Australian shepherd. ... See MoreSee Less