Deputy of the Year Award

FTO Bret Cook became a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. Since that time, he has worked at North Precinct, South Precinct and is currently assigned to the West Precinct as a Field Training Officer.

In addition to working on patrol, he is a member of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. In the 5 years he has been with us, he has proven to be a very reliable and courageous member of the agency. He has provided outstanding service since he was hired in 2006, but he had a truly exceptional year in 2010 and was recognized many times for excellence. Of the more than 500 incredible deputy sheriffs in this agency, he was recognized as the Deputy Sheriff of the Month twice in 2010, a rare accomplishment.

In a single year, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award for his investigative skills in a homicide case, a Life Saving Award for saving the life of a drug overdosed teen and the Sheriff’s Office’s highest and most prestigious award, the Medal of Valor for his involvement in a shooting incident where an armed suspect was threatening to kill his family.

Through all Deputy Cook’s activities, he displayed exceptional dedication, courage and professionalism and the entire BCSO family is proud to name him the 2010 Deputy Sheriff of the Year.

Corrections Officer of the Year Award

Corrections Deputy Josh Butler has sets the standard for excellence in the corrections profession. Although he had a busy 2010, he was ultimately selected to receive this prestigious recognition for taking immediate actions which saved the life of an Inmate.

In June of 2010, Corrections Deputy Butler was working in Charlie Cell Block of the 500 Pod when he noticed an inmate in severe distress, gasping for air. He quickly assessed the situation and realized that the inmate had something lodged in his throat that was obstructing his airway. He remained calm and immediately began to perform abdominal thrusts on the inmate. After multiple thrusts he was able to dislodge the obstruction, clearing the airway and allowing the inmate to breathe.Because the inmate’s airway was fully obstructed, his actions saved the life of the inmate and just 2 or 3 more minutes of distress would have resulted in the inmate’s death.

In addition to being named the 2010 Corrections Deputy of the Year, Corrections Deputy Butler was also awarded the Sheriff’s Office Life Saving Award.

Communications Officer of the Year Award

Shawna Griffin has been employed with our 911 Communications Center for 20 years and has been a Shift Supervisor for the last 15 of those 20 years. During that time, she has developed a close rapport with co-workers and her ability to communicate with citizens far exceeds expectations. She has been commended on many occasions for her compassionate approach to citizens, as well as her ability to serve as a leader in this agency. She encourages her team to always do their absolute best in one of the toughest and most challenging professions.

In addition to supervising a shift, she has taken the initiative to coordinate the Outreach program for Communications for the last 4 years. This program is designed to find applicants who have the right stuff to be a successful 911 Communications Officer. Her efforts have made a real difference in the overall quality of our 911 service. She is also a member of the regional Child Abduction Response Team and recently completed the FDLE Instructor Techniques course. She was also actively involved in the Sheriff’s Office United Way campaign which yielded great success.

She is revered as being the “best in the business” by her peers, supervisors and staff.

Employee of the Year Award

2010 was a very challenging year for the Crime Scene Unit due to a large case load and higher than expected employee turnover. As a result, CSI Kate Hart’s work schedule was intense, but she went to work every day and every night with a smile on her face and the best attitude you could imagine.

So how did we thank her? With even more responsibility. We needed her to train the incoming crime scene technicians in addition to doing everything else she was doing. And once again, she did it with a great attitude. In 2010, she either assisted or was the lead crime scene investigator in most of Brevard County’s homicides. In addition, she also responded to164 other important criminal cases.

In what little off time she has, she uses it to volunteer for her community. She is the head coach for the Merritt Island High Schools girl’s local lacrosse team.

In May, she received a letter of appreciation for assisting in the writing of the “Solving Cold Cases with DNA” grant. In June, she received a letter of appreciation for her efforts which assured a successful prosecution of suspects associated with a narcotics grow house. In August, she was awarded a Commendable Service Award for her assistance to the Cocoa Police Department to exhume the body of a murder victim, a complicated process that took 11 days in an open field with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees.

She has also been recognized by State Attorney Norm Wolfinger for her work with their office which helped assure successful prosecutions.

Lucy Ross Award

Beginning in 2005, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office established a very special annual award known as the Lucy Ross Award. Lucy was unfortunately taken from us much too early when she was killed in the line of duty in 2004. Lucy was very special to all of us. One of the ways we celebrate her life is through the recognition of a very special person in the Sheriff’s Office who demonstrates the same qualities as Lucy…qualities such as an unwavering dedication to the community, the attainment of excellence in her profession, and the love of children.

Deputy Sherry Pope has been employed by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office for more than 20 years. She has utilized her position in the Sheriff’s Office working in the Dependency Court at the Moore Justice Center to make a lasting difference in the lives of the children and families. She shows incredible compassion to those in need, especially children.

One such example is when she met a 15 year old girl who has spent the majority of her life being shuffled through over 60 various foster homes. Seeking to provide her some form of stability, she has called her on a regular basis, celebrates her birthday, spends time with her on the weekends, takes her out for lunch or dinner, purchases clothes for her, listens to her problems, and provides a positive influence on her life.

She often leads and coordinates toy drives, clothing drives and blood drives. She took advantage of an empty room at the Moore Justice Center and stocked it with toys and clothing so children who come to the courthouse who are in need can pick out a toy or receive some new clothing. According to the Honorable Judge Charles Crawford, “She is truly an asset to the Sheriff’s Office. She provides every child that comes to court with a memory that includes her caring attitude, compassion and even a gift from the court they can take with them. She is by far the most professional, and at the same time, most compassionate person, I have ever encountered. I cannot tell you enough how deserving I think she is of the Lucy Ross Award.”

Reserve Deputy of the Year Award

Reserve Deputies are fully certified law enforcement officers, but most have full time jobs in the private sector. They want to serve their community as law enforcement officers and do so free of charge without any pay or benefits. All of our reserves are extremely special people and our county is blessed to have them.

Reserve Deputy Doug Postlethweight volunteered 681 hours and worked 21 special details during 2010 . He is committed the Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Brevard. He assists with Ag/Marine and road patrol on a frequent basis. Regardless of what is asked of him, the answer is always yes. According to the supervisors of the Reserve Unit, he has been an excellent deputy that has proven he can be counted on and they are extremely proud of him.

Volunteer of the Year Award

Volunteers make up an important part of the Sheriff’s Office. Their efforts make Brevard County a safer place and they save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in no cost public safety services. Although, every one of our volunteers is deserving of our gratitude, it is always an honor to select the year’s top volunteer.

Charlie Grimm is assigned to the Cape Canaveral Precinct and performs an extraordinary service for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and the Citizens of Cape Canaveral. He has volunteered to work very major Canaveral event in memory. Before retirement, Charlie was a full time Corrections Officer with the Sheriff’s Office for many years. After a few years of retirement, he decided to volunteer his spare time with the Cape Canaveral COP program. Charlie’s spare time quickly became a full-time commitment. In 2010, he logged almost 2,000 volunteer hours and logged close to 10,000 patrol miles.

Citizen of the Year Award

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has selected Bob Stork CEO of Communications International, Inc. as the “2010 Citizen of the Year” for Brevard County as a result of his caring and compassionate actions for Brevard County’s Children by supporting many Sheriff’s Office initiatives to protect them.

His generous and unending support of Crosswinds Youth Services which includes their Children’s Shelter which gives children a loving environment safe from abuse.

Bob Stork, and the entire C I I Team under his leadership, has made a real difference in the lives of children in Brevard County.

Medal of Valor

• Deputy Jeff Cook
• Sergeant Mike Brown
• Agent Raonel Barrial
• Agent Pete Huminski
• FTO Bret Cook
• Cpl. Quincy Hines
• Deputy Chris Little
• Agent Rob Vitaliano
• Deputy Thomas Case
• Deputy Mike Hriciso
• Cpl. Brian Regan
• Deputy Jason West

Meritorious Awards

These recipients were nominated by their supervisors and selected by the Awards Committee for displaying exceptional thoroughness, determination, compassion and initiative while carrying out their duties.

• Corporal John Speece
• Cpl. Sang Hill
• Deputy Todd Holland
• Communications Officer Michael Kirn
• Agent Dan Ogden
• Agent Lee Wenner
• Deputy Lyndale Smith & K9 Boss
• Deputy Jeffrey Kroll
• Deputy Brett Cook
• Agent Kraig Hupfer
• Deputy Jennie Rivera
• Corporal John Martinez
• Sgt. Terry Laufenberg
• Deputy Justin Gould
• Deputy William Dasher
• Corporal Christopher Sands
• Deputy Kenneth Shields
• Communications Officer Ashley West
• Agent Adam Steuerwald
• Agent Christopher Williams
• Agent Vincent Ziccardi
• Agent Tammy Beuer
• Sergeant Kent Sellers
• Sergeant Harry Cieszynski
• Agent Brandon Gish
• Deputy Laura Cizmadia

Life Saving Award

This is a distinguished award that means that their actions directly saved the life of a fellow citizen.

• Chief Pilot John Coppola
• Deputy Jason Holmes
• Lt. Dan Singleton
• Deputy Frankie Mays
• Co-Pilot Mike Ryle
• Deputy Brett Cook
• Deputy John Decossaux
• Deputy Roberto Sosa
• Deputy Dan Thrush
• Deputy Daniel Hammond
• Deputy Patrick Ferguson
• Deputy Chaston Williams
• Deputy Chaston Williams
• Deputy J. McDonel
• Deputy James Darville
• Corporal Jason Speece
• Sergeant Kelly Simpkins
• Deputy Kim Holland
• Deputy Charles Laroche
• Corporal Richard Otranto
• Corporal Michael Mazzone
• Corrections Deputy Josh Butler
• Deputy Jose Santos
• Deputy Sondra Sanders
• Deputy Robert Aoun
• Deputy Kelly McCarty
• Deputy Stuart Center
• Deputy Gary Wyse

Commendable Service

This award signifies that the recipient has performed a commendable act that is unusual in nature and demonstrates initiative and accomplishment.

• Corrections Deputy John Cornelius
• Deputy Adam Regan
• Deputy Jonathan Kent
• Deputy Cliff Webster
• Deputy Jacob Rettler
• Agent Raonel Barrial
• Corrections Deputy Jeffrey McKeehan
• CSI Kaitlin Hart
• Deputy Peter Gilbert
• Deputy Michael Kornhauser
• Crew Supervisor Anthony DelDuca
• Deputy Adrian Moss-Beasley
• Deputy William Hammer
• Sr. Admin Assist. Katrina Wilson
• Deputy Mike Fletcher
• Sr Admin Assist. Amy Moody
• Inventory Specialist Glenda Brown
• Agent Michael Mazzone
• Deputy Juan Vargas
• Sgt. Terry Laufenberg
• Sgt. Robert Cline
• Deputy Ethan Kersey
• Deputy Francis Sarivola
• Deputy Pedro Germosen
• Deputy Francis Sarivola
• CSI Candace Matthews
• Deputy Ben Hosmer
• Deputy Mike Doyle
• Deputy Luke Pearson
• Crew Supervisor Jimmy Fielding
• Deputy Josh Hedleston
• Lt. Vic DeSantis
• Deputy Kent Guttebo
• Reserve Dep Debbie Demers
• Deputy Mark Myers
• Corrections Dep Lorenzo Hutchinson
• Agent Greg Richter
• Lt. Paul Ring
• Deputy Robert Manley
• Agent Joe Martin
• Deputy Howard Shelton
• Admin Assist. Kerri-Ann McGuire
• Agent Carl Sangaleer
• Corrections Dep Frederick Mendiola
• Sys. Engineer Bill Morrison
• Agent Todd Beuer
• Deputy Honey Kohn
• CSI Kaitlin Hart
• Agent Mike Spadafora
• Lt. Scott Molyneaux
• Agent Brandon Gish
• Agent Doug Caskey
• Deputy Sondra Sanders
• COP Fred Mastin
• Deputy Carrie Pyne
• Reserve Lt. Francis Cirillo
• Agent Greg Richter
• Agent Steve Fernez
• Deputy Gary Wyse
• Sergeant Michael Homer
• Deputy Jonathan Sperling
• Deputy Jennie Rivera
• Deputy Maria Fernez
• Deputy Marc Rosenfeld
• COP Ann Petrovich
• Agent Chris Ryba
• Deputy Jason West
• Agent James Haman
• Deputy Christopher Ryba
• Deputy Kent Guttebo
• Deputy Stacie Moore
• Benefits Coordinator Ron Forknall
• Judicial Process Supervisor Barbara Hensley
• Deputy Casey Bratsch
• Cpl. Domenick Prisco
• COP Harry Gordon
• Deputy Carmine Siniscal
• Deputy Daniel Genova
• Deputy Richard Clements
• Deputy Tanner Primmer
• Agent Jennifer Smith
• COP Edwin Sammis
• Agent Michael Spadafora
• COP Charlie Grimm
• Deputy Marc McDilda
• Deputy Brandy Torquato
• Agent John Jennings
• Agent Craig Carson
• Crew Supervisor Lauren Donaldson
• Corrections Deputy Orlando Segura

Monthly Awards

Unit Citations

• Honor Guard
• Dive Team
• K9 Teams
• Jail Work Farm
• Personnel Unit

20 Years of Service Award

• Scott Asbury
• Bruce Barnett
• John Bradshaw
• Virginia Casey
• John Caulfield
• Tsechu Chou
• Michael Doyle
• Louis Heyn
• Cletis Jones
• Melissa Knight
• Todd Maddox
• Angela Matthews
• Adrian Moss-Beasley
• Sherry Pope
• Brandy Torquato
• Andrew Walters
• Troy Wilson

25 Years of Service Award

• Glenn Andersen
• Scott Armstrong
• Ricky Blush
• Paul Chalko
• Robert Cullen
• Deborah Demers
• Brian Earles
• Christopher Hendrix
• Michael Qualter
• Lana West
• Mary Young

30 Years of Service Award

• Gloria Brinson
• Linda Ciolfi
• Dana Doucette