Pictured left to right: Corrections Sergeant Dana Dawley and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. Emergency Operations Manager Michael Speigle and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. Not pictured: Sergeant Eric Griffin
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards during a ceremony Wednesday to recognize the 2025 Supervisors of the Year.
Sergeant Eric E. Griffin was named the 2025 Law Enforcement Supervisor of the Year for his leadership of the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and Digital Forensics Lab (DFL). Throughout the year, he ensured search warrants were legally sound and led the development of comprehensive training on electronic warrant protocols. He collaborated closely with the State Attorney’s Office, Property Section, and Records Section to maintain compliance with public records laws and privacy protections. He personally reviewed more than 300 cyber tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the ICAC Task Force. Beyond investigations, he actively supports families and leads community outreach through the “Digital Parenting: 101” program, equipping parents to better protect their children online.
Sergeant Dana L. Dawley was named the 2025 Courts and Corrections Supervisor of the Year for his leadership and impact on operations. He played a key role in training new immigration warrant service officers in the booking process emphasizing accuracy and proper completion of immigration-related documentation. He also supported patrol personnel in understanding and applying the Immigration Task-Force Model, improving compliance, reducing errors, and increasing confidence in documentation requirements. Sgt. Dawley consistently seeks ways to streamline the booking process, simplifying procedures for both corrections and patrol while supporting booking technicians. He strengthens collaboration across booking, courts, patrol, and warrants as a trusted liaison. Additionally, he serves as Assistant Commander of the Honor Guard and helped bring the National Honor Guard Academy to Sarasota County.
Emergency Operations Manager Michael C. Speigle was named the 2025 Civilian Supervisor of the Year for his exceptional leadership and dedication. He led the development of training, schedules, response plans, and the configuration of the computer-aided dispatch system, supporting 11 agencies served by the Emergency Operations Center. His efforts ensured a smooth transition and increased personnel confidence in the new system. Beyond his primary role, he advanced key initiatives, including revising the call handling guide and enhancing geographic mapping in collaboration with fire and emergency services to improve situational awareness and response capabilities. He also developed a Quality Assurance reporting system to strengthen data accuracy and usability. Additionally, he implemented an Air Methods application that streamlined medical helicopter requests, improving transport efficiency, patient care, and response times. Manager Speigle contributes to training development with the University of South Florida and serves on the training committee for the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.
“These supervisors bring exceptional leadership and experience to their roles at the sheriff’s office,” said Sheriff Hoffman. “We are proud to recognize their achievements and grateful for their dedication and continued service to our community.”