Special Edition News & Views 2019 Agency Awards

August 2020

Message From The Sheriff Greetings, We honor our distinguished agency award winners and thank them for their hard work and dedication. Throughout the last year, individuals from all units and specialties have stepped up to provide an unmatched level of service.

Unfortunately, we are unable to host an agency awards ceremony this year like we have in the past. This decision was not easy to make because recognizing members’ accomplishments is important, but it is necessary for the health of our members, their families, and friends.

Thank you for your commitment to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the part you have in Leading The Way For A Safer Pinellas.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri

“Leading The Way For A Safer Pinellas”

Ruth & Tim Johnson Award The Ruth & Tim Johnson Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year Award was created in 1973 by Ruth and Tim Johnson, supporters of law enforcement, and long-time Pinellas County residents. Throughout the years, the Johnsons have presented their award through the Kiwanis Club of Greater Clearwater and the Clearwater Kiwanis Club. Now, the Deputy of the Year Award is presented as part of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Agency Awards Ceremony. The Johnson family established a perpetual trust to provide a monetary award and plaque to the annual recipient, and they continue to participate in the annual event.

Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year Sergeant Chris Platt In December 2019, Sergeant Chris Platt, his wife Aimee, and their children, Joshua and Sean, were traveling westbound on the Courtney Campbell Causeway when they observed a vehicle pull onto the shoulder of the road, accelerate rapidly, then drive off the seawall and into the water through the mangroves. The vehicle was half submerged, about 75 feet away from the seawall, and was floating further away from shore. Sergeant Platt and Joshua stood on the seawall yelling to any occupants in the vehicle but received no response. Aimee called 911 as Sergeant Platt and Joshua climbed over the seawall to enter the water. As they approached the vehicle, they found the passenger and driver door locked and all the windows were rolled up. They tried banging on the windows while yelling, but there was no response. Sergeant Platt and Joshua went back to the seawall when the first Tampa Police Department (TPD) officer arrived on scene. Sergeant Platt identified himself and explained the situation. While doing so, Sean located a window punch device inside their family’s truck, which he provided to his dad. The TPD officer, Sergeant Platt, and Joshua again entered the water to return to the car, which was now approximately 100 feet from shore and almost fully submerged. Sergeant Platt utilized the window punch device and broke the rear window of the vehicle.

He then noticed the vehicle had a sunroof that was open about an inch, so he and the TPD officer pulled the sunroof off allowing Sergeant Platt enough room to reach in the front seat area to locate any occupants.

On his second attempt, he reached further down toward the dashboard area and felt a body. Sergeant Platt and the TPD officer pulled the man out through the sunroof and onto the roof area, keeping his head above water. Sergeant Platt immediately administered a sternum thrust causing him to expel water out of his mouth. The man continued coughing up water as Joshua and TPD officers brought the subject to shore where he received medical treatment. Sergeant Platt and his family are recognized for their immediate actions as they showed extreme courage in saving the life of another. Sergeant Platt received the Ruth and Tim Johnson Deputy of the Year Award and an Exceptional Service Award, his wife Aimee received the Gold Star Award, and his sons were awarded Citizen Recognition Awards.

Captain Louis B. Kubler Awards During his long and distinguished career with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Louis B. Kubler was a commander of patrol, corrections, investigations, and identification (now the Forensic Science Division). When he was assigned to identification, Captain Kubler developed an interest in the dedication and persistence of the forensic science specialists who often worked long hours to find the tiny bits of evidence necessary to solve a case. While he served in corrections, Captain Kubler found that the detention deputies were often overlooked for their courage and resolve in dealing with the world “behind closed doors.” The following awards were initiated by Captain Kubler’s family and are presented in his memory.

Louis B. Kubler

Forensic Science Specialist of the Year

detention deputy of the Year

Craig Giovo

Deputy Jeremy Stanfield In February 2019,

Craig Giovo is being recognized for his role and continued efforts using specialized processing techniques to assist with the recovery of latent fingerprints for Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office cases, as well as outside agency cases. In May 2019, Craig responded to a residential armed burglary investigation. He photographed an extremely difficult shoe impression on the victim’s front door, which subsequently led to the identification and arrest of the suspect who had a criminal history in three states. In November 2019, Craig responded to a homicide investigation for the St. Petersburg Police Department. He chemically treated a bloody footprint and enhanced it to bring out additional ridge detail. The St. Petersburg Police Department identified the footprint to a possible suspect.

Craig has worked diligently within the Forensic Sciences Division to assist outside agencies who submit requests for processing on homicides and other cold cases. In 2019, he assisted four additional agencies from Florida and throughout the United States to process evidence. Craig continuously goes above and beyond his normal duties.

He is a mobile crime lab operator, assists with bringing the mobile crime lab to major scenes to assist investigators, steps in as a voluntary field training specialist to train specialist recruits when other field training specialists are unavailable, and assists with assembling and set-up of new equipment to ensure proper operation. Craig continuously shows his hard work and dedication in every aspect of his role.

Deputy Jeremy Stanfield was alerted by a frantic neighbor knocking on the front door of his home.

A young mother next door had been giving her baby a bath when he slipped under the water briefly, causing him to inhale water. The mother tried to clear his airway, but the infant began to convulse, and the mother screamed for help.

Family members ran into the bathroom to assist with CPR while the mother ran next door to get help. Thankfully, Deputy Stanfield was home and immediately rushed over to their house and took over administering CPR to the baby until he began breathing again. Deputy Stanfield stayed with the family until the police and paramedics arrived and assumed patient care. Without Deputy Stanfield’s quick response and prompt action, the baby would not have survived this medical emergency.

Jacqueline “Jackie” C. Clement Michele Beltran The Jacqueline Clement Award was initiated in 2004 as a tribute to former member Jackie Clement. During Jackie’s tenure with the Child Protection Investigation Division, she exhibited a commitment to excellence in service for the children of Pinellas County. Since its inception, this award has been given to support members in the Child Protection Investigation Division who also exhibit the same qualities that Jackie did during her time with us. Michele Beltran has been with the sheriff’s office since 2016 and is responsible for assisting child protection investigators with clerical duties, information requests, and collateral information gathering and reporting.

Due to some turnover in this position, Michele was also tasked with training other assistants in their roles and duties. She continues to maintain high standards each and every day. Her assistance in the office keeps the investigators in the field with the families that need attention and support.

child protection investigator of the year Abigail Swanson In 1999, the Child Protection Investigation Division was established after the sheriff’s office took over full responsibility for conducting child protection investigations in Pinellas County. Currently, there are approximately 75 child protection investigators in the division working tirelessly to keep children safe.

Abigail is being recognized for her actions involving a four-year-old child who was left unattended in deplorable conditions while the mother routinely left the home for extended periods of time. In February 2019, Abigail requested law enforcement to respond with her to a call where a child was allegedly left home alone while the mother went to the beach. When they arrived, they were unable to gain entry but spoke to the landlord who allowed them in the home because of the serious nature of the call. Once inside the home, they discovered the residence in total disarray with piles of clothes, trash, and a strong odor of ammonia from an old litter box. A new toddler bed frame, still in the box, was in the living room, and a matching mattress in its original wrapping was found in the hallway. Abigail observed a small child peering over a child gate from a room down the hallway.

As Abigail approached the child, she could smell the child’s feces and observed it covering him. Nobody was at the residence to care for the child. When the mother returned, she admitted to leaving the child alone. She expressed how she could not care for the child and was fearful she would hurt him. The mother eventually terminated her rights. The investigation found the child’s foot was fractured but never treated. The child also suffered from speech and other developmental delays. Abigail’s instinct to request law enforcement when responding to the call and her perseverance to determine the welfare of a potentially abandoned child may have saved this child’s life.

support person of the year Jen Haimes Since August 2017, Jen has been assigned to the Economic Crimes Unit. She has demonstrated the ability to organize vast amounts of information into spreadsheets and prepare reports that are clear and succinct. Jen’s creative displays make complex schemes of criminal activity easy to understand. Because of the inventive methods she has devised, she is the “go-to” person in the unit. Jen takes great pride in her work and has received compliments from many local, state, and federal agencies for the quality and imaginative way her work is presented.

She has an eye for seeing broad networks and patterns of criminal activity. Jen has identified patterns of criminal behavior in the fraud case involving Savage Yachts, and she also played an integral role in improving and better identifying suspects for the unlicensed contractor sting operations. Jen has made it her mission to support and improve the Economic Crimes Unit by utilizing her resources, intellect, and skills to make the unit successful.

Reserve Deputy of the year Deputy Rebecca Bahret Deputy Bahret has been a reserve deputy for the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office since 2018. She currently assists within the Human Resources Bureau, the Field Training Unit, and works off-duty details averaging approximately 93 hours per month. Deputy Bahret began her career with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in November 1999 as a forensic science specialist before becoming a deputy sheriff in 2003. She worked as a patrol deputy and a narcotics detective before retiring in 2010 to be a full-time parent. In 2018, she returned as a reserve deputy and continues to serve her community. Deputy Bahret has worked a large amount of off-duty details for the School Guardian Unit. These mandated positions could not go unfilled, and her acceptance of these last-minute details fulfilled a critical agency mission.

While filling these positions, she identified opportunities for school improvement and notified the School Guardian Unit. Deputy Bahret is being recognized for her loyalty and dedicated service to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Pinellas County.

citizen recognition award Joshua Platt Sean Platt Denise McCoy Soraya Savage

combat cross award Awarded for an intelligent act of exceptional heroism while engaged in combat with an armed adversary.

Detective Richard Curry Jr. On January 23, 2020, Detective Richard Curry Jr. was assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force in an undercover capacity. While conducting surveillance in a St. Petersburg alley, he was approached by a subject from a nearby residence. Detective Curry identified himself as a deputy, so the subject left and entered a nearby residence.

Approximately one minute later, Detective Curry observed two subjects emerge from that same residence armed with a rifle and a pistol. He heard the rifle being chambered as he exited his vehicle, and in fear for his life, engaged the suspects with his pistol firing multiple rounds, all while moving to cover. One suspect was located in the

back yard of the residence, where life saving measures were attempted, but unsuccessful.

The second suspect fled the area on foot and was later apprehended on a rooftop. The investigation found the deceased suspect fired three rounds from an AR-15, and the second suspect fired five pistol rounds. While under fire, Detective Curry struck the deceased suspect five times, thereby saving his own life.

Detective Curry is being recognized for his exceptional heroism while engaged in combat with an armed adversary. Detective Curry is also being awarded the Gold Star Award for outstanding achievements at the 2019 SWAT Round-up, and the Unit Achievement Award while assigned to the Violent Crimes Task Force.

Deputy Brennen Wede Deputy Brian Williams On August 3, 2019, Deputies Wede and Williams were assisting with a homicide investigation in Safety Harbor.

While assigned to perimeter positions, they observed the suspect return to the crime scene driving the victim’s vehicle. As multiple deputies and investigators were on scene, Deputies Wede and Williams converged on the vehicle. The suspect pointed his 12 gauge shotgun towards Deputy Wede who engaged the suspect with his agency-issued rifle. Deputy Williams fired his agencyissued pistol before rendering first aid to the suspect.

Deputy Wede and Deputy Williams are being recognized for their exceptional heroism while engaged in combat with an armed adversary. Deputy Wede is also receiving the Gold Star Award for his outstanding achievements at the 2019 SWAT Round-up.

Exceptional Service Award Awarded for a heroic act involving grave personal danger.

Deputy Dustin Hansen Sergeant Chris Platt

Excellent Service Award Awarded for an innovative, self-initiated act contributing to a valuable law enforcement accomplishment.

Detective Christopher Lyons Deputy Bridgett Morris

Gold Star Award Awarded for an exemplary act or outstanding performance that brings recognition to the Sheriff’s Office, or for an attempt to save a life in a nonthreatening situation.

Anthony Anderson Detective Bill Angus Sergeant Jason Bahret Deputy Bryan Beeler Deputy Rita Bishop Detective William Bottorf Corporal Kevin Boulton Amber Camacho Deputy Kevin Carey Michael Coats Corporal James Cooper John Coughlin Detective Richard Curry Jr. Deputy John Darby Jr. Deputy Kenisha Deg Detective Brian Diebold Danielle Dixon Shantele Dixon Rebeca D’Jimas Deputy Stephen Esposito

Jay Esquig Justin Extine Detective Jake Gauthier Bill Gerretz Lieutenant Mitchell Grissinger Deputy Heather Harris Detective Darren Heller Detective Anthony Hellstern Kristen Hernandez Sergeant Greg Horton Sergeant Joshua Jones Sandra-Leigh King Rhonda Klein Kristi Klotz Ashley Levesque Deputy Marcos Martinez Lisa McCoy Deputy Timothy McTaggart Deputy Jeffrey Naiman Officer Steele Nardozzi

Deputy Jeffrey Nelson Deputy Russ Novak Sherry Nowotarski Jesus Nunez Deputy Scott Peters Aimee Platt Jeffrey Richarz Deputy Colin Roper Linda Scire Deputy Travis Sibley Detective Aaron Smith Dexter Smith Heather Temple Sergeant Matthew Thornton Deputy Brennen Wede David Villanueva Deputy Wyeth Whitehurst Kimberly Whitesell Deputy Jayson Young Dana Zuchetto

Certificate of Professionalism Awarded for dedication and professionalism exhibited in the performance of duty.

Jason Anderson Samuel Anes Deputy Afram Bassous Michael Coats Corporal Ed Belvis-Cuevas Detective William Bottorf TJ Cooke Debi Emmons

William Goellner Angela Gorbet Mara Iocolano Heather Meade Dexter Smith Heather Temple Deputy Angelo Terrasi Wilda Toussaint

unit achievement Award Awarded for excellence in a group effort during an investigation, arrest, or other achievement that brings recognition to the Sheriff’s Office.

Detention Investigative Unit Deputy William Bottorf Diane Broehm Corporal Ed Belvis-Cuevas

Detective Adel Kljajic Deputy Daniel Nocera

Intelligence Led Policing Divsion Kristina Cole Jacqueline Danzig Molly Demund Mary Ellis Joe Goodell

Dale Holbrook Jessica Holland Ciara Manns Megan Nowakowski Melissa Pettibone

Kimberly Priest Kristi Sabbides Cindy Schaer Annette Shapiro Kelly Wilson

Pinellas County Violent Crimes Task Force Lieutenant Randy Corlett Corporal Shawn Livernois Officer Lamon Green Detective Michael Deerman II Detective Bill Mauro Officer Tyler Rydlewski Lieutenant Kenneth Euler Jr. Deputy Brian Munoz Sergeant Lisa Gaskins Corporal Guy Habercom IV Sergeant Dave Stang Jr. Officer Liem Mach Deputy Mike Krlin Detective Anthony Hellstern Officer Seth Maranville Deputy Melanie Leib Detective Richard Curry Jr. Officer Chris Bauer

Public Relations Bureau Ricky Butler Joanna Cheshire Ryan Gordon Lieutenant Spencer Gross

Sergeant Jessica Mackesy Julie Philbin Nicole Prohaska Corporal Chuck Skipper

Tracey Welch Michelle Whiting Verliz Williams

Tactical Surveillance Unit Detective JB Biandudi Detective Robert Casey Detective Erin Gauthier Detective Jim Haley

Lieutenant Alyson Henry Detective Corey Hood Corporal Guy Kirby Detective Brandon Lundy

Deputy Larry Palombo Detective Eric Turner Detective Dustin Wiatrak