BRADENTON – Congressman Vern Buchanan today announced the winners of his Congressional District Law Enforcement Awards. Buchanan established the awards thirteen 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.
“Law enforcement is a noble and demanding profession that requires sacrifice, courage and a dedication to serve others,” Buchanan said. “Every day, brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way to enforce our laws and protect the public. They deserve our gratitude and respect. I believe these awards are a fitting tribute to our officers and a reminder of the important role they play in our communities.”
In 2021, Buchanan renamed the Career Service Award to the Gary Tibbetts Career Service Award in honor of his former field representative, Gary Tibbetts. Before serving in Buchanan’s office for nearly a decade, Tibbetts was a retired police sergeant who served for over 23 years with the Manchester Police Department in New Hampshire. Tibbetts died from COVID-19 in 2020.
“Gary was a consummate professional and true public servant in every sense of the phrase,” said Buchanan. “He coordinated the Congressional District Law Enforcement Awards for several years and took great pleasure in the task. I am honored to name the Career Service Award in honor of Gary’s enduring legacy.”
So far in 2023, 194 officers have died in the line of duty.
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award (24): Lieutenant John Hurd, Lieutenant Nicholas Pruitt, Sergeant Robert Hendrickson, Detective Tyler Ackerman, Detective Imran Din, Detective Christopher Foy, Deputy Michael Davis, Deputy Nicholas DiFilippo, Deputy Amy Dunkum, Deputy Camilo Garcia-Fajardo, Deputy Kevin Gonzalez, Deputy Joshua Groover, Deputy Connor Hartley, Deputy Stephen Hill, Deputy Tristan Knutson, Deputy Alexis Lyon, Deputy Joseph Maggio, Deputy Kelli McLaughlin, Deputy Andrew Rodman, Deputy Hurly Smith, Deputy Adam Spatafora, Deputy Serissa Thompson, Deputy Randall Walker, and Deputy Aaron Winslow of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Dedication and Professionalism Award (5): Special Agent K. Dino Balos of the ATF, Officer Joshua Small of the Bradenton Police Department, Trooper Taylor Ledford of the Florida Highway Patrol, Master Detective Juan Lazu, Jr. and Detective Michael Fernandes of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
Gary Tibbetts Career Service Award (1): Major William “B.G.” Dixon of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office
Preservation of Life Award (16): Detective William Mulligan of the Bradenton Police Department, Trooper Kevin Tomberlin of the Florida Highway Patrol, Deputy Alexander Maldonado and Deputy Kevin Reich of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Sergeant Thomas Fraser and Officer Alex Hurt of the Holmes Beach Police Department, Detective Grace King, Deputy Ryan Emkey, Deputy Jared Leggett, Deputy Michael Mahoney, Deputy Micah Osornio, Deputy Christian Ruiz, Deputy Monica Ruiz, Deputy Matthew Schwartz, Deputy Reaghn Simandl, and Deputy Ty Simandl of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Unit Citation Award (8): 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 Search and Rescue: Deputy Jared Leggett of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Buchanan is a strong supporter of the law enforcement community. Buchanan introduced the Thin Blue Line Act, which toughens penalties against anyone who murders targets 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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