Jose Manuel Varela (Manny) is currently a Public Safety Supervisor at the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Lake Nona’s Medical City, in Orlando Florida. He is a former decorated, Master Police Orlando Police Officer of over 23 years of service and a former Soldier of the United States Army.

He grew up in Miami, Florida, and graduated from American Senior Highschool. He would later enlist in the U.S. Army. After his tour of duty, he attended the University of Tampa. We later graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. While obtaining his degree, he worked as a clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida. He was later admitted into the Hillsborough County Police Academy and was subsequently hired by the Orlando Police Department where he worked many positions to include Patrol Operations, Field Training Officer, Downtown Bike Squads, Motors Unit, DUI Specialized Enforcement, Detective in the Drug Enforcement Division, and later in both Property Crimes as well as Economic Crimes. Prior to his retirement in 2020 he was assigned to the Orlando International Airport Division. During his tenure at the agency, he obtained numerous Florida Department of Law Enforcement Certifications and awards. These certifications include Advance Trainer Certifications, Critical Intervention Teams, Juvenile Critical Crisis Identification, Sex Crimes Investigations, Clandestine Laboratory Investigations, Drug Identifications, Traffic Homicide Investigations, Advanced Tactical Training, Motors Certification, Police Driver Instructor Certificate, along with many others. During his last five years he was the liaison/coordinator for Extra Duty Police Services between the Police Department and Nemours Children’s Health. After his retirement, he joined the new Public Safety Unit at the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Lake Nona, Orlando Florida.