Zephyrhills Police Swear In Sierra Mathis, First Black Woman to Serve on Force

Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer swore in Officer Sierra Mathis this week, making her the first African American woman to serve as a police officer in the department's history. The ceremony was announced through the department's social media accounts and marks a new milestone for a force that patrols a city of roughly 18,000 residents in east Pasco County.

Chief Brewer presided over the swearing-in personally. The department, in its announcement, called Mathis's addition to the roster a proud moment for the agency, noting that her badge represents a first in ZPD's long record of policing Zephyrhills.

Brewer has led the department since 2017 and started his own career with ZPD in 2002 as a patrol officer, working his way up through the ranks before four months as interim chief and then a permanent appointment. That history gives the department's own framing of this hire some weight: it comes from a chief who has spent more than two decades inside the same building.

Why the milestone matters locally

Zephyrhills has grown steadily over the past decade, drawing new families and retirees alongside longtime residents, and the police department has grown with it. A first like this one doesn't change patrol schedules or response times, but it does say something about who is answering calls and knocking on doors in neighborhoods across the city. For a lot of residents, seeing the force reflect more of the community it serves is exactly the kind of story that sticks.

The department has not released additional details about Officer Mathis's assignment, prior experience, or training background. What's confirmed is the fact of the swearing-in itself, this week, with Chief Brewer presiding.

Residents who want to follow ZPD's hiring and community updates directly can check the department's own page through the City of Zephyrhills Police Department site.

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