- April 23, 2024
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Program recognizes accomplishments and professionalism
“God bless you man,” Jeremy Royce, of Ormond Beach, told Police Officer David Lank. “You were there so fast. And that’s important when someone is having a heart attack. I’m here today because of you.”
Royce spoke at the Ormond Beach Police Department Award Recognition Program as he presented the Life Saving Award to Lank. One morning last October, when Royce was not breathing and had no pulse, Lank performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
“I want to show you my family,” Royce said to Lank, pointing to his wife and two children in the audience. “Today, I’m a husband and a dad because of you.”
The Life Saving Award was one of several presented to officers and citizen volunteers May 19 at City Hall. This is the first year the awards have been presented in a formal ceremony. Previously, they were given out at staff meetings throughout the year, according to Chief Henry Osterkamp.
Recipients received a framed plaque and a $50 gift certificate. An officer can be nominated by a supervisor or fellow officer, and the name then goes to a committee of police department employees, who pass along their recommendation to the chief. Citizen volunteers were also recognized.
Detective Briana Mathis was honored for meritorious service in investigations. In January, a juvenile victim was robbed, severely beaten and then abandoned. During the course of Mathis’ investigation, it was determined that the incident was related to gang activity, and numerous suspects were identified. Several cases were closed and three subjects were arrested.
Officer William Warmington was also honored for in-depth investigative work. After a traffic accident involving a death, he did extensive research, collecting bar receipts and establishing a timeline of events, which resulted in a DUI arrest.
Officer Caleb Braun received the Chief’s Commendation for taking extra initiative in an investigation that resulted in the arrest of a murder suspect. An abandoned car had never been reported stolen, but he tracked down a relative of the owner, and found that the owner was the victim of a homicide in Holly Hill. Evidence in the car led to an arrest.
Receiving Letters of Commendation from the chief were Officers David LaBrie and Stephen Mills for exemplary service in handling an attack by a pit bull that had previously killed three dogs and attacked their owner. The officers responded to calls of help from the owner, who was trying to prevent the dog from killing a cat, and Officer Mills shot the dog with his service weapon after the dog attacked Officer LaBrie.
A Unit Commendation went to a group of officers who solved a series of car burglaries. They caught two suspects leaving the scene of a car break, and through investigation, connected them to several other break-ins. Recognized were Sergeant James Doggett, Corporal Mike Pavelka, Officer Rob Pearson, Officer Joe Orlando, Officer Maurine Evans and Officer Lauren Sanders.
The Physical Fitness Program awards those officers who meet the established criteria for various levels of physical fitness. The following recipients were recognized: Lieutenant R.J. Godfrey, Sergeant Jamie Gogarty, Sergeant Lisa Rosenthal, Corporal Mike Pavelka, Detective Stephen Brugone, Detective Jim Voegtle, Officer Jeremy Smith, Officer Ryan Mihalko, Officer Amberly Michaelis, Officer Michael Carini, Officer Shane Jarrell, Officer John Dovine and Community Service Officer Justin Soard.
Officer Royce James was recognized for being proactive and issuing the most seatbelt/child restraint citations in the agency during the Florida Click it or Ticket Challenge, a program that aims to increase the awareness of the importance of seat belts.
Citizen volunteers were recognized for the efforts in patrolling for traffic and code violations. Those honored were Erwin Manenti, Tom McCullough, Gus Minardi, Merritt Nellis, William Rowe, Marvin Stein, Mike Farb, Frank Reda, Jerry Epstein, Maria Kretschmayer, Charles Moskowitz, Sally Panella and Millie Reda.
