Lieutenant Scarpa is a United States Navy veteran. He served four years as an aviation electricians mate. After his military service, he was employed by the Department of Defense, and later United Technologies Sikorsky Aircraft, as an aircraft electrician. He attended Palm Beach Community College and Old Dominion University in the Naval ROTC Program. He is continuing his college education and plans on completing a degree in human resource management.

Due to constant lay offs in the aircraft industry, he decided to change careers. “I was working in my spare time as a scuba instructor and dive guide off of the reefs in Palm Beach County. “I became very aware of the need to protect the marine environment and had spoken to a Marine Patrol Officer. I enjoyed working in the marine environment and wanted to do what I could to help protect it.”

He graduated from the first combined Florida Highway Patrol/Florida Marine Patrol academy in March of 1996. His first duty station was as a near-shore sanctuary officer in the lower keys. He was promoted to Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of the 82’ offshore patrol vessel “Point Monroe” in March or 2001. He and his crew patrol the Dry Tortugas Ecological Reserve. “Being the Commanding Officer of the Point Monroe is the best job I ever had. I have a great ship and a great crew.”

Name: Scott LaRosa
Rank: Officer
Duty Station: Upper Keys Region

Scott graduated from the University of South Florida in 1984 with a BS degree in biology and began a career serving the people of Florida as a Park Ranger. He received his law enforcement commission through the Florida Park Service in 1987, and transferred to the Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary in 1988. Since then, he has been patrolling the Upper Keys reefs and is a well known local icon of resource protection and public safety. He has worn at least four different uniforms while doing the same job, as the program has grown over the years. Scott hugely enjoys the most important aspect of Sanctuary Law Enforcement: water patrol. His motto is "I drive the boat". If you plan on spearfishing in the Key Largo Management area, better be watching out for Scott!

Name: Bill Green
Rank: Officer
Duty Station: Lower Keys Region

Soon after graduating from West Virginia University in 1974 with a B. S. in wildlife biology Bill Green moved to the Fl. Keys.  Bill began working for the Florida Park Service in 1975 as a ranger.  After completing a law enforcement academy he began duties enforcing regulations at Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary as well as the state parks.  Bill always had an interest in the outdoors and biology and found law enforcement to be the best way to stay in the field and continue to learn.

In 1985 Bill Green transferred to sanctuary enforcement duties full time.  During his tenure with the sanctuary program he has been fortunate in obtaining further training, including NOAA dive certification and a 50-ton U. S. Coast Guard license.  The creation of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has provided Bill with greater opportunities to learn the waters and ecosystems of the Florida Keys and to help protect our unique resources as well as protecting the public.  The job is a near perfect one for this area, providing a great deal of fulfillment and variety.  Bill intend to remain with the Sanctuary Enforcement Team through the remainder of his career with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Name: Liz Riesz
Rank: Officer
Duty Station: Upper Keys Region

Liz Riesz graduated from Old Dominion in 1992 with a BS in Recreation and Park Management, and a minor in Marine Biology. After graduation, she worked for a year and half at a High Adventure Camp in Islamorada as a Divemaster and Boat Captain. Liz left the Keys and moved to New Port Richey while employed for Associated Marine Institutes, a juvenile delinquency rehab school. Then on to Jacksonville, where as a civilian she managed a large military base marina at NAS Jacksonville. After several years as a Marina Manager officer Riesz moved back to the Keys and to start work with FWC as a Dispatcher at their Marathon center. Liz made the jump to law enforcement after a year and half of dispatching, trained in Tallahassee for 6 1/2 months, then returned to Islamorada as an Officer for the Upper Keys Sanctuary Enforcement Team. Officer Riesz has been with FWC and the Sanctuary a total of three years, and believes that she has "the best job in the whole world".

Name: Charlie Mallow
Rank: Officer
Duty Station: Lower Keys Region

Officer Mallow served in the US Coast Guard for ten years before coming to the FWC. He graduated from Florida Keys Community College with an A.S. degree in Diving Business and Technology. He attended the FWC law enforcement academy and serves as a crew member aboard the "Point Monroe." He holds a USCG 100 Ton Masters License and is a NOAA Working Diver. He is also a team member on FWC's Special Operation Group (SOG.

“I love the office view that I have, working the water of the Florida Key’s National Marine Sanctuary. I enjoy educating the public in protecting and preserving the environment and catching those who wish to exploit the resources.”