 - Copy.jpg?t=202512241221220)
Pictured left to right: Deputy Jeffrey Shand and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; SCSO TAC Unit members and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman; SCSO Emergency Response Team members and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards at a ceremony on Thursday.
Deputy Jeffrey Shand received the Life Saving Award for his response to a call reporting an unresponsive female patient. Upon arrival at the home, he assessed that the female was experiencing a heart-related emergency. Shand relocated the patient to the floor and began CPR which continued until the arrival of Sarasota County Fire Department. During the five cycles of CPR performed by Shand, the patient regained a pulse and was then transported to Englewood Hospital. Because of Deputy Shand’s extraordinary efforts and dedication, he successfully saved the life of this citizen.
The Tactical (TAC) unit consisting of Sergeant Mark Hall, Sergeant Ben Lubrano, Detective Brandon Clark, Deputies Nicholas Andreas, Daniel Furner, Michael Kimson, James Lynch, Logan Mayer, Brandon Meddaugh, David Miller, and William Rose, and former TAC Deputy Sergeant Stefanie Silva received a Unit Citation Award for their accomplishments demonstrating outstanding skill, dedication, and teamwork. This unit is often called upon due to their versatility, adaptability, and overall teamwork displayed over the years. In 2024, the TAC Unit showed relentless dedication, strategic planning, and operational excellence as they executed over 300 physical arrests for various felony and misdemeanor offenses relating to narcotics, burglaries, theft, and driving and firearms charges. Additionally, within the same year, they implemented a new training program highlighting the various roles that TAC unit deputies must be able to handle during their tenure in the unit. TAC Unit deputies have strengthened relationships with local businesses with the purpose of tackling organized retail theft, have authored multiple search warrants on various premises, electronic devices, and social media accounts, and have proved to be a vital asset in responding to critical incidents through Sarasota County by providing valuable support to patrol units and enhancing the overall effectiveness of law enforcement operations.
The Emergency Response Team (ERT) Unit consisting of Lieutenants Gerardo Carrillo and James Darby, Sergeants Brian Bercaw and Kyle Collison, Detectives Evan Bair, Alexander Conly, and Dwight Mattis, Deputies Shane Ayala, Devin Berry, Carlos Burgos-Aponte, Christian Cedano, Yevgeniy Chernyavskiy, Michael Deleo, Houston Dikeman, Gabriel Eckert, Andrew Ellingsen, Erick Flanagan, Michael Feltovic, Christopher McConnell, Christopher McGrain, Justin Osinga, Carl Petrigno, Michael Randazzo and Scott Thomas, received a Unit Citation Award for their remarkable service throughout 2024. These 26 dedicated employees consistently demonstrate incomparable skills, teamwork, and leadership in responding to a wide range of emergencies. The Emergency Response Team responded to numerous callouts in addition to three hurricanes that each presented unique challenges ranging from locating missing persons, searching a landfill for items connected to a homicide, and searching with K-9 deputies and the Aviation Section for a suspect who had fled an attempted homicide. Weather-related incidents involved aid to citizens during Hurricane Debby and again for Hurricane Helene requiring coordinated efforts with Sarasota County and DeSoto County Fire Departments. This exceptional performance not only qualified ERT for the Unit Citation but revealed an unmatched level of diverse abilities of its members and their willingness to go above and beyond in any situation.
“Constant enthusiasm to strive for excellence and raise the bar is what we see in this group of award recipients” commented Sheriff Hoffmann. “We make certain our members are trained and equipped for almost any emergency, but in these out-of-the-ordinary situations we see them give their all individually and as a team for the safety of our community.”