Buchanan Holds Annual District Law Enforcement Awards

BRADENTON – Congressman Vern Buchanan last night held his annual Congressional District Law Enforcement Awards in front of a packed house at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Buchanan established the awards fourteen years ago to give special recognition to law enforcement officers and departments in Florida’s 16th District for exceptional achievement. The winners were selected by an independent panel of current and retired law enforcement personnel organized by Buchanan.

“Every day, these brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way to enforce our laws and protect the public,” Buchanan said. “Now, more than ever, they need and deserve our gratitude and respect. I believe these awards are a fitting tribute to our officers, and their four-legged partners, and serve as an important reminder of the vital role they play in our communities.”

So far in 2024, 71 officers have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.

Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award (6): Lieutenant Nicholas Pruitt, Deputy Michael Ates, Deputy Althavia Brown, Deputy James Forkin, Deputy Christopher Houghton, and Detective Dwight Roberts of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Dedication and Professionalism Award (7): Officer Andrew Adkins of the Holmes Beach Police Department, Officer Kevin Williams of the Bradenton Police Department, Trooper Taylor Ledford of the Florida Highway Patrol, Corporal Benjamin Schlabach of the Palmetto Police Department, Detective Matthew Hostetler, Detective Steven Luke, and Detective Carmine Luper of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Gary Tibbetts Career Service Award (4): Major Todd Shear of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Captain (retired) William Knight and Detective Jeff Beckley of the Bradenton Police Department, and Special Agent (retired) Stephen Lieberman of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Preservation of Life Award (22): Sergeant Russell Ackerman of the Bradenton Police Department, Officer Specialist Kelsey Dalton of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Lieutenant Richard Rietz, Sergeant Randy Lamb, Sergeant Laszlo Nagy, Detective Eric Davis, Deputy Jake Essek, Deputy Joshua Groover, Deputy Brian Hart, Deputy Stanley Hartley, Deputy Brandon Howard, Deputy Lauren Jalowiec, Deputy Alexis Lyon, Deputy Robert Macchio, Deputy Paul McCartney, Deputy Humberto Noronha, Deputy Gregory Palso, Deputy Deborah Perry, Deputy Carrie Renninger, Deputy Patti Savageau, Deputy Hurly Smith, and Deputy Arturo Velasquez of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

Unit Citation Award (21): Bradenton Police Department Narcotics Unit: Detective Eleazar Garcia and Detective Brandon Kells; Florida Highway Patrol Troop C Criminal Interdiction Unit: Sergeant Joshua Malloy, Trooper Jeremy Fields, Trooper Wesley Kelly, Trooper Deryck Lewis, Trooper Chris Nottingham, Trooper Sergio Pearce, Trooper Eric Schaub, K-9 Flip, K-9 Titan, and K-9 Lobo; Manatee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud/Auto/Pawn Unit: Sergeant Jason Farrier, Detective Anthony Begley, Detective Joshua Breitwieser, Detective Gary Cummings III, Detective Samuel Ebeling, Detective Rachael Fossaceca, Detective Daniel Reyna, Detective Antonio Starnes, and Detective Randall Walker

Buchanan is a strong supporter of the law enforcement community. Buchanan is the sponsor of the Thin Blue Line Act in Congress, which toughens penalties against anyone who targets or kills police officers and other first responders. Specifically, the bill would make the murder or attempted murder of a first responder an “aggravating” factor in death penalty determinations.

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Permalink: https://buchanan.house.gov/2024/7/buchanan-holds-annual-district-law-enforcement-awards

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