Left photo pictured left to right: Deputies Matthew Hadnot and Luke Edwards with Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. Deputy Daniel Traylor is not pictured.
Right photo - back row left to right: Deputies Shane Shoemaker. Christopher Altekruse, Matthew McAleer, Sgt. Brian Bercaw, and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.
Right photo - front row left to right: Warrants Technicians Carol Pagan, Michelle Hauke-Amburgy, and Karen McGuire.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards at a ceremony on Tuesday.
Deputies Matthew Hadnot and Luke Edwards received the Life Saving Award for their quick action in saving the life of a 27-year-old woman. On February 28, 2026, Hadnot and Edwards were the first to arrive on scene of a female in cardiac arrest. Deputy Edwards began chest compressions as Deputy Hadnot administered rescue breaths. After five minutes of CPR, rescue personnel arrived and assumed care, transporting the patient to Doctor’s Hospital. The nursing staff advised that the early CPR significantly improved her chances for survival.
Deputy Daniel Traylor received the Life Saving Award after responding to a call on February 4, 2026, of an unresponsive female in a parking lot. When Traylor arrived on scene, he found a woman lying on the pavement, blue in the face. He conducted a quick assessment of the woman and observed that she was not breathing and did not have a pulse. Traylor immediately began CPR and continued until rescue units arrived. He then continued to assist the Sarasota County Fire Department personnel for an additional four minutes before the woman was transported to the hospital. Because of his immediate and on-going actions, Deputy Traylor played a significant role in her survival.
The Fugitive Apprehension Unit (FAU) consisting of Sgt. Brian Bercaw, Deputies Christopher Altekruse, Matthew McAleer, Randin Miller, Shane Shoemaker, Deputy Recruit Blanca Montoya, Warrant Technicians Michelle Hauke-Amburgy, Karen McGuire, and Carol Pagan, received a Unit Citation Award for exceeding expectations in their performance of highly sensitive and high-liability operations during 2025. This effort was achieved in spite of the fact that every sworn member and one warrants technician had been replaced within the previous two years.
The FAU requires daily coordination with all three divisions of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, as well as outside law enforcement partners nationwide, the Clerk of the Court, Booking, Teletype and transport companies. The unit manages the verification, entry and removal of every warrant in Sarasota County and is responsible for locating and apprehending the most dangerous and evasive offenders.
The Warrants Office received 7,056 warrants for entry in 2025. The technicians verified each document before entry into the system and were able to clear 5,552 warrants following arrests and processed 996 recalls from the court.
Throughout the year, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit showed great proficiency and dedication, resulting in 645 arrests, many involving career criminals and violent offenders who were actively evading capture.