Steve Zona began his law enforcement career with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department in 1988, serving as a patrol officer until 1990. In 1990 he joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, serving as a patrol officer and sergeant over the K-9 Unit, Sex Crimes, Robbery and Homicide until he retired in 2016.

Steve became a member of Jacksonville Consolidated Lodge 5-30 in 1990. He was elected Lodge Secretary in 2013 and Lodge President in 2015, a position he still holds today. He also serves on the Florida State Lodge Legislative Committee, the National FOP Urban Policing Committee, and is the Florida State Lodge District 2 Director. As president, he has helped pass legislation for PTSD, Corrections LEOSA, and Officer Rights in the Florida Legislature. He also negotiated a 21% pay increase for Jacksonville police officers, was the driving force in the creation of the Jacksonville Public Safety Health Insurance Trust Fund and negotiated funding in the amount of $180,000 per year from the City of Jacksonville to go to the Fallen Officers Fund.

Steve Zona has been the voice of advocacy and reason during these recent trying times, securing and passing out essential items to his active and retired members and their families, donating hand sanitizer and masks to the National Staff, defending officers against media persecutions, demanding safety equipment for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office staff and securing workers’ compensation benefits for his members before other cities and states began to address the issue.

The FOP is proud to present Steve Zona with the award of 2020 Jack Dudek Member of the Year Award. Congratulations!

The information on this page was accurate and current at the time the Member of the Year Award was bestowed upon this member.