[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 123 (Thursday, July 17, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARDS RECIPIENTS 
                OF FLORIDA'S 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

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                           HON. VERN BUCHANAN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 17, 2025

  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.
  Fifteen 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 and 
include in the Record the following recipients 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: Special Agent 
     Matthew Murray of ATF, Deputy John Howes III of the 
     Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Officer Chris Bennett 
     of the Holmes Beach Police Department, Deputy Leonel Barboza, 
     Deputy Stephen Cook, Deputy Michael Davis, Deputy Jackson 
     Dugmore, Deputy Robert Pereyra, Jr., and Detective Randall 
     Walker of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office;
       Dedication and Professionalism Award: Deputy Jeffery Merry 
     of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Captain Mark 
     Morie of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Corporal Quinn 
     Moriarty of the Palmetto Police Department;
       Gary Tibbetts Career Service Award: Chief Melanie Bevan and 
     Sergeant Michael Kriebel of the Bradenton Police Department, 
     Captain Araseli Stanley of the Manatee County Sheriff's 
     Office;
       Preservation of Life Award: Deputy Judd Beckwith, Deputy 
     Lashonda Bowden, Deputy Colin Caldwell, Deputy Brian 
     Fullbright, Deputy Adrian Harrison, Deputy Micah Osornio, 
     Deputy Erika Perez-Ramos, Deputy Luis Rivera-Lopez, Deputy 
     James Workman, and Deputy Javier Zuniga-Mejia of the Manatee 
     County Sheriff's Office;
       Unit Citation Award: Bradenton Police Department Crime 
     Reduction Team: Sergeant Todd Freed, K-9 Officer Michael 
     Wall, Officer Steven Bembry, Officer Jordan Miller, Officer 
     Aaron Smith, Officer Connor Horsley, Acting Sergeant Jeff 
     Beckley, K-9 Officer Nicolas Leeman, Officer Enzo Rovira, 
     Officer Brett Heagney-Sciamatore, Officer Marisol Valente, 
     and Officer Maddie Johnson, Bradenton Police Department Elder 
     Fraud Unit: Detective James Curulla and Officer Deana McNeal, 
     Manatee County Sheriff's Office Homicide Unit: Major Anthony 
     Williams, Captain Darin Bankert, Sergeant Salvatore Levita, 
     Detective Charles Butler, Detective Darryl Davis, Detective 
     Mark Pearson, Detective Garrick Plonczynski, Detective 
     Michael Smith, Detective Justin Warren and Sergeant Jeremy 
     Liddell, Manatee County Sheriff's Office Resource Assistance 
     Program (RAP Unit).

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