Florida Highway Patrol captain retires after 41 years

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Capt. Mike Burroughs is retiring after more than 41 years of service to the state of Florida, concluding a career that included leadership roles in public affairs, criminal investigations and district command.

According to an FHP release, Burroughs served in numerous capacities throughout his career with the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, including seven years as Public Affairs lieutenant for Troop B from 2001 to 2008.

In that role, Burroughs served as the primary public information officer for a nine-county region that included Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Marion and Suwannee counties. He coordinated the release of information to local media outlets and the public while serving as a key liaison during major traffic incidents, investigations and public safety campaigns.

Following his tenure in public affairs, Burroughs was promoted to captain within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, where he commanded the Statewide Criminal Interdiction Unit from 2008 to 2014. In that leadership role, he oversaw statewide criminal interdiction efforts focused on identifying and disrupting criminal activity on Florida’s roadways.

In 2014, Burroughs returned to Lake City to serve as district commander, a position he has held for the past 12 years. As district commander, he oversaw operations and personnel while continuing the agency’s mission of promoting highway safety and enforcing Florida’s traffic laws.

Throughout his more than four decades of service, Burroughs earned the respect of colleagues, law enforcement partners and members of the media for his professionalism, leadership and commitment to public service, according to the FHP release.