Protecting the citizens of Indian River County runs through the blood of the Barker family.
As a child, Sheriff’s Deputy Roberta Barker said she saw her dad, a former lieutenant with Vero Beach police, pull a man from a burning car. Her father’s heart and determination to help people inspired Barker to follow in his footsteps.
“I”m so proud of my dad, and I know he’s proud of me,” Barker said. “I wanted to go out there and give back, just like my dad did.”
After a well-rounded career in law enforcement, including working at the Sheriff’s Office, Vero Beach Police Department and in the military, Barker will officially retire Jan. 2, 2018.
Barker has worked at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 29 years. She has served as a patrol deputy, K-9 deputy, field training officer and more.
“I’m ready; it’s time for me to go and let the young people take over,” Barker said.
Barker said she has no regrets about becoming a law enforcement officer and that she enjoyed every moment of her career. She is credited with shooting a bank robbery suspect in June 2007 after the man, suspected of planting a pipe bomb in front of a Suntrust Bank in Roseland, led authorities on a chase on northbound U.S. 1.
“I did what I was supposed to do (as a deputy),” Barker said. “It was my biggest event for my career.”
The 64-year-old man is currently being held in prison; Barker didn’t recall his name. Barker said she couldn’t remember if the pipe bomb detonated.
Barker speaks to a class at the first Gifford Citizens Academy.
Barker also was a critical component of the sheriff’s citizens academy for 10 years, said sheriff’s spokesman Eric Flowers. She gave presentations during the first Gifford citizens academy this year, which was held at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center, 4875 43rd Ave.
Deputy Roberta Barker speaks to residents at the 1st Citizens Academy at the Gifford Youth Achievement Center. Citizens who take the 10-week program listen to presentations on special operations, drug awareness, identity theft, crime scenes, legal training, the SWAT team and more.
Posted by Nick Samuel on Tuesday, September 26, 2017
“We’re sad to see her go,” Flowers said.
Flowers said Barker was part of the core law enforcement group that formed “Shop with a Cop.”
Shop with a Cop is a program where local law enforcement officials take kids in need shopping around Christmas time.
The two main agencies who host the program are the Sheriff’s Office and the Sebastian Police Department. Officials with other agencies also are invited to come out and take kids shopping, Flowers said.
Career
Barker started her career as a dispatcher with Vero Beach police in 1976, where she worked for three years. Then, she left to go to the Air Force for 10 years, Barker said.
In 1989, Barker started at the Sheriff’s Office as a dispatcher for six months and then became a deputy. She was one of the first batch of K-9 deputies for the agency, where she and her late canine partner, Rusty, searched homes and vehicles for narcotics.
She has helped train new recruits as a field training officer and looked for suspicious activity as a patrol deputy.
Deputy Roberta Barker (center) with Deputy Teddy Floyd and Sheriff’s spokesman Eric Flowers.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Advice
Barker’s words of advice to new law enforcement officers – enjoy the job.
“Do the job you have to do and be safe,” Barker said. “Know the people and take every moment you have to enjoy it.”
