[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 118 (Monday, July 22, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARDS

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                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 22, 2024

  Mr. BUCHANAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to law 
enforcement men and women who have provided distinguished service to 
the people of Florida's 16th Congressional District.
  Law enforcement is a demanding profession that requires sacrifice, 
courage, and dedication to serve others. Every day, brave men and women 
put themselves in harm's way to enforce the laws of our society and 
protect public safety. They deserve our gratitude and respect.
  Fourteen years ago, I established the 16th District Congressional Law 
Enforcement Awards to give special recognition to law enforcement 
officers, departments, or units for exceptional achievement.
  This year, I will present Congressional law enforcement awards to the 
following winners chosen by an independent panel comprised of current 
and retired law enforcement personnel representing a cross-section of 
the district's law enforcement community:
  Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

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