East Hillsborough Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner honors Four LEOs

By Cierra Craft

On May 9, the East Hillsborough Law Enforcement Association hosts its 61st annual dinner. The event brings officers from Plant City Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, and Florida Highway Patrol to honor these organizations and its personnel for their service to our community.

The evening begin with a message from EHLE chairman Bill McDaniel, a former member of Plant City Police Department. Held at the Florida Strawberry Festival TECO Expo Hall, the Presentation of Colors was a joint agency honor guard and committee member Jodi Stevens led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Plant City Police Department Chaplain Jeff Howell offered the Invocation.

Dinner was served by Johnson Barbeque & Fred’s Market as the Alex Belliveau Jazz Quartet provided entertainment. Following dinner, the presentation of awards began for the night’s four honorees. Each were presented with a plaque, a $500 check, and a customized Sig Sauer P226 pistol courtesy of Seattle Engraving.

PCPD Officer Josh Snyder began his career at PCPD in 2007. He served in the Investigative Service Division’s Street Crimes Unit as a Detective, including as assignment as a Task Force Officer. Officer Snyder worked cases involving narcotics, firearms violations, prostitution, and human trafficking. After a successful stint as a

Detective, Officer Snyder returned to the patrol division where he currently serves as a Field Training Officer.

FHP Trooper Wesley Kelly has been employed by the Florida Highway Patrol for eight years. He is a member of the Criminal Interdiction Unit, a specialized unit with specially trained troopers assigned throughout the state to patrol the interstate, state highways, and other local roadways.

HCSO Detective Michael Fernandes has been with the sheriff’s office since 2014 and was assigned to District II, primarily patrolling the Dover area. In 2022, Detective Fernandes was instrumental in the development and execution of several operational plans targeting violent gang members.

FWC Officer Specialist Hunter Caldwell joined the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission in 2011. His passion for resource protection and public safety is reflected in his continued outstanding performance and was recognized by command staff when they assigned him to the unmarked resource protection unit for three years. He made significant cases in protecting federal protected birds, a case of illegally harvesting gamefish, and played a leading role in arresting individuals commercially gill netting thousands of fish and a juvenile dolphin in the bay.