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Stephen "Steve" R. Van Dyke Stephen "Steve" R. Van Dyke has served as the Founding Executive Director of the United States Deputy Sheriffs' Association (USDSA) since it's inception in 1995. He brings over 15 years experience with nonprofit membership associations with him to the helm of this national organization, leading the group into phenomenal growth and philanthropic outreach into the county law enforcement community. Steve
was born and raised in Philadelphia. He holds a Bachelor's Degree
in Communications from Temple When he is not busy traveling to USDSA training seminars across the country, year round, Steve resides in Houston, Texas with his wife, Judy and their son Alex. Steve believes his goals for the USDSA are simple. "The USDSA was formed primarily to help under-funded county departments get equipment that they could not otherwise acquire," Steve relates. "We also began sponsoring extremely valuable training seminars a few years ago. I can not begin to tell you what it means to me when a member calls me and tells me how they would not be alive today if it were not for one of our training seminars. While I may not have an extensive background in law enforcement, I assure you that it does not take a genius to awardequipment to people who have nothing, or to find superior trainers to share their knowledge with our members. When we started the USDSA, I had not intended to put much emphasis on training like I have. It keeps me away from home on the weekends, but it is well worth it.. The total number of pieces of equipment that we have given away continues to amaze me. We have awarded hundreds of bulletproof vests, radar units, camcorders, portable breath testers, firearms and- who knows what else!. In the future, I look to increase our fundraising efforts and try to supplement that effort with grant money. The combination of those two things should allow the USDSA to grow even bigger and benefit more deputies. |
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