A review of deputy Carlos Verdoni's work file shows that prior to Friday -- when he shot and killed a 20-year-old Venice man who rang his doorbell, ran and then reportedly tried to get Verdoni's gun -- the officer has had a low-key career with the Sarasota Sheriff's Office.
He started with the agency in 2001 as a jail guard, was promoted a couple of years later to a job taking reports, and in 2007 was moved to patrol. He has received average marks on his annual reviews.
His neighbor, Dave Sherman, said Verdoni is a new father who is studying for a business degree on the side.
Sherman said Verdoni and his wife, Megan, who is a surgical nurse at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, had their first child four months ago.
Verdoni, who worked the midnight shift and was taking online classes to earn the business degree, is "the sweetest guy you could ever meet," Sherman said.
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Verdoni moved to Sarasota in the mid-1990s and graduated from Sarasota High School in 1995.
He worked odd jobs after graduation, from a local pharmacy to the movie theater, and in June 1998 was cited for failing to show in court on an unpaid traffic ticket.
Verdoni surrendered on the misdemeanor charge, lost his license for a month and was placed on probation for six months.
In January 2000, he joined the U.S. Army. He married in June of that year, but his wife "had difficulties adjusting to the military life" and he was honorably discharged in November.
The couple divorced in September 2001 and Verdoni returned from an Army base in Oklahoma to enroll in the criminal justice program at Manatee Community College.
He landed a position at the Sheriff's Office in 2001 at the jail, where he had difficulties with his supervisor, reports show. In a 2004 memo, a sergeant wrote that he struggled to accept direction and criticism.
"On one occasion," the sergeant wrote, "he became defensive, argumentative and disrespectful toward me."
Later, records show, he improved and was promoted to patrol.
Working the night shift on Siesta Key and areas south of Bee Ridge Road, Verdoni was often lauded by supervisors.
In January 2008, he and others used footprints to nab a burglary suspect and, later that year, he was commended by superiors for his close work with business owners and residents on the key.
His only disciplinary report came in June 2008, when he was caught speeding in his patrol car. He was placed on desk duty for two weeks.