Meet Deercreek Resident – Jennifer Zinge
By Joan Hecht
Jennifer was born in Jacksonville, FL, where both her mother and father were nurses at Baptist Hospital. Her father was the first male nurse employed in Jacksonville.
At age 1, Jennifer and her family moved to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area, where she remained for most of her life. She attended college at St. Petersburg College, earning a degree in Criminal Justice.
Following graduation, she joined the Police Academy and was immediately hired by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Initially, at age 22, she worked in the Narcotics Division posing ‘undercover’ as a 16-year- old student in various High Schools. While most of us were watching the popular television show, ’21 Jump Street’ from the comfort of our homes, Jennifer was acting and living out the part in real life. She even caught chicken pox from one of the students and qualified for workmen’s comp!
She was recruited with a fellow male officer and together, they became the most successful undercover detectives posing as high school students, in the United States. They were so proficient in their roles that the Attorney General asked them to teach other undercover detectives how to be successful in the same role as high school students.
Jennifer served in various roles and positions throughout her 25-year career in Law Enforcement, including Patrol Operations. She recalls going to the scene of a recent bank robbery. She began canvassing the area and spotted a man matching the description of the suspect changing the tag on his vehicle in the Burger King parking lot. She apprehended and arrested the suspect, who had been dubbed, ‘The Santa Claus Bandit’ after robbing 5 banks.
She also worked as a Field Training Officer (FTO), training new recruits and as a Community Policing Officer, serving as a liaison between the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the community; primarily in impoverished areas of the city.
Following the attacks on 9/11, Jenn and a fellow male officer were personally selected by the Sheriff for the prestigious position of protecting government officials. The most prominent case was that of providing security for Judge George Greer who presided over the famous, ‘Terry Schiavo, right to die’ case. From there, she became a detective in the Crimes Against Children Division. Her roles included undercover internet chat operations throughout the State of Florida and as liaison for the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. She was involved in hundreds of cases involving child victims. During a 5 ½ hour interview with a convicted child predator, Jennifer asked him how she could better educate parents to prevent someone like him from harming their children. He replied saying, “Beware of anyone that wants to spend more time with your children than you do.”
Jennifer also worked in the Special Victims Unit, (admit it, the intro to the popular television show just played in your head). In this unit, she worked long-term Human Trafficking cases, which included cases involving racketeering and wiretapping members of organized crime. Her last position was as a detective in Property Crimes.
Jenn first met her husband, Dan at a traffic crash scene, where he was the District Chief of the Fire Department and she was the Deputy on duty. Soon after, she was transferred and they lost touch until three years later, a chance meeting at the elevators, in the court house. They began dating and on their one year anniversary, Dan met her once again at the same elevators, with two dozen roses in hand and a ring. Surrounded by family, on bended knee, he proposed. They have now been married for 19 years and have a 10 year old daughter-Ariana, a Golden Doodle, Oliver, a long-haired Dachshund, Hemi, and a cat, Alibi.
At age 46, in the same year she became eligible for retirement, Jennifer was involved in an on-duty, head-on car collision sustaining severe head, neck and back injuries. She opted to retire in order to focus on healing her body with rehabilitation and physical therapy, which resulted in a full recovery.
Seven months following her car crash, she was diagnosed with breast cancer requiring numerous surgeries. It was a challenging time in which Jennifer determined to improve her life by adopting a healthier lifestyle including a healthy diet, organic supplements, exercise and the regular use of a PEMF signal device by BEMER Group.
She is now an Independent Distributor for that same medical supply company. Jennifer proudly credits these measures for healing and restoring her body naturally, without the use of pain meds. Jennifer is also currently completing her Nutrition and Wellness Coach certification with NASM.
What brought You to Deercreek?
“My parents are both deceased, but we have 15 family members living in Jacksonville and my daughter wanted to live closer to her cousins. In 2023, having both retired, there was nothing holding us back. My husband is an avid golfer and our daughter is on the PGA Jr. League, so we looked at various golf club communities. The minute we drove into Deercreek we fell in love with this community and all that it offers; the country club, great neighbors, privacy, and beautiful homes. We now own two homes in Deercreek.
Favorite Deercreek Memory:
When we closed on our house, the seller realtor, BJ Weyer, handed us a hand written invitation to a Christmas party that soon grew into three party invitations before we even unloaded the first box. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Now, some of our closest friends live in Deercreek.
Hobbies and Special Interest:
We love to travel and listen to live music; especially country music. I also enjoy fitness classes and strength training. I volunteer regularly at my daughter’s school and we are active in the Deercreek community. I am a member of The Deercreek Women’s Alliance and The Garden Club. (Jennifer will be modeling in the Garden Club’s Spring Fashion Show).
