FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 25, 2016) – The Fort Myers Police Foundation honored more than 60 uniformed officers at the “Men & Women in Blue of the Year” appreciation dinner on Jan. 23 at Colonial Country Club in Fort Myers.
The sold-out event, including more than 200 attendees, honored the outstanding public service of the brightest stars of the Fort Myers Police Department and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. FMPD retirements for 2015 were also recognized.
The evening’s top recipients included Officers Gustavo Goncalves and Amber-Lee Williams receiving the 2015 George Sanders Distinguished Law Enforcement Officers of the Year; Sergeant Shawn Yates receiving the 2015 Supervisor of the Year; Officer Domonic Zammit being awarded the 2015 Officer of the Year; and Quartermaster Bryan Smith being named the 2015 Civilian of the Year.
“These men and women put themselves at risk each and every day to make our community safe, and they deserved an evening of recognition and thanks,” said Larry Romano, president of the Fort Myers Police Foundation. “We want to thank the community for supporting this event honoring these public servants in blue for all they do for us.”
Sponsors included Allstate Insurance Company – Cathy Sink Agency, Susan Fahs Agency, Patrick Swaney Agency, Fort Myers City Council, Fort Myers City Councilwoman Gayle Anthony, Fort Myers Department Police Athletic League, FMPD Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, Colonial Country Club, Henderson Franklin Attorneys at Law, Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, J.J. Taylor Distributing Florida, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Preferred Community Bank, Primerica, Sam Galloway Ford, Scanlon Auto Group and Victory Layne Chevrolet.
All funds raised by the Police Foundation go toward purchasing life-saving equipment for the FMPD.
Established in 2014, the Fort Myers Police Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose goal is to help build a stronger bond between the community and its local police department. Since its formation, the Police Foundation has raised $150,000 that has gone toward purchasing medical kits for patrol cars, ballistic shields, electronic ear protection for shooting ranges and a firearms training simulator.
For more information, visit www.fortmyerspolicefoundation.org.
The complete list of recipients:
2015 George Sanders Distinguished Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award
Officer Gustavo Goncalves
Officer Amber-Lee Williams
2015 Supervisor of the Year Award
Sergeant Shawn Yates
2015 Officer of the Year Award
Officer Domonic Zammit
2015 Civilian of the Year Award
Quartermaster Bryan Smith
Meritorious Service Ribbon
Officer Sean Havenner
Life Saving Ribbon
Officer Constant Brown
Life Saving Ribbon
Officer Curtis Cates
Life Saving Ribbon
Officer Ryan Lakatos and Officer Michael Preshard
Life Saving Ribbon
Officer Ezra Padgham
Life Saving Ribbon
Detective Jesus Ramos
Life Saving Ribbon
Officer Nicholas Toma
Life Saving Ribbon
Officer Domonic Zammit
Grand Cordon Ribbon
Sergeant Jason Petaccio
Grand Cordon Ribbon
Officer Constant Brown and Officer Yvetta Dominique
Grand Cordon Ribbon
Officer Walter Mickey
Grand Cordon Ribbon
Officer Edward Quinn
Grand Cordon Ribbon
Officer David Conticelli
Unit Citation Ribbon
Lieutenant Jay Rodriguez
Sergeant Arturo Gonzalez
Officer Brandon Birch
Officer Sean Havenner
Officer Walter Mickey
Officer Jack Millard
Officer Scott Newbury
Officer Edward Quinn
Officer William Schulte
Officer Philip Youngblood
LCSO Lieutenant Mark Mallard
LCSO Sergeant Jimmy Heuglin
LCSO Deputy Gabe Rose
LCSO Deputy Phil Daugherty
LCSO Deputy Guillermo Monmany
LCSO Deputy Russell Park
Unit Citation Ribbon
Officer Scott Newbury
U.S. Marshal Supervisory Inspector Paul Smith
Deputy U.S. Marshal John Kinsey
Deputy U.S. Marshal Ebenezer Paikai
LCSO Sergeant John Greene
LCSO Detective Gary Bailey
LCSO Detective James Butler
LCSO Detective Keith Dunn
LCSO Detective Cecil Fitch
LCSO Detective Bryan Perrera
LCSO Detective Richard White
Officer Peter Tennreiro
Cape Coral P.D. Detective Matthew Fordham
Distinguished Volunteer Cross Ribbon
Lieutenant Jeffrey Bernice
Lieutenant Jay Rodriguez
Lieutenant Peter Tarman
Mrs. Denise Egolf
Mr. Bryan Smith
Distinguished Volunteer Cross Ribbon
Officer Sarah Harris
Officer Evelyn Roberts
The Triumphant Ribbon
Officer Matthew Najar
Croix de Negotiator Ribbon
Officer Timothy McCormick
The Samaritan Ribbon
Lieutenant Jay Rodriguez
Lieutenant Roger Valdivia
Exceptional Service Ribbon
Chief Dennis Eads
Lieutenant Jeffrey Bernice
Lieutenant Peter Tarman
Lieutenant Roger Valdivia
Sergeant Enrico Doro
Sergeant Jason Fields
Sergeant Jason Petaccio
Sergeant Joshua Steinman
Sergeant Glenn Thompson
Sergeant Shawn Yates
Officer Lesa Breneman
Officer Matthew Najar
Officer Ezra Padgham
Officer William Schulte
Officer Kelly Witt
Exceptional Service Ribbon
Lieutenant Jeffrey Bernice
Sergeant Enrico Doro
Sergeant Jason Fields
Sergeant Jason Petaccio
Sergeant Walter Mitchell
Officer Keith Curr
Officer Alain Gagnon
Officer Jonathan Garcia
Detective Jason Greene
Officer Sean Havenner
Officer Michael Kloack
Detective Daniel Losapio
Officer Jack Millard
Officer Matthew Najar
Officer Ezra Padgham
Officer Kelly Witt
Exceptional Service Ribbon
Sergeant Joshua Steinman
Officer Curtis Cates
Detective Jesus Ramos
Officer Robert Vega
Honorable Service Ribbon
Officer Robert Kerbs
Officer Evelyn Roberts
Honorable Service Ribbon
Detective Jesus Ramos
Honorable Service Ribbon
Officer Joseph Vidal
Officer Yvon Plancher
Good Conduct Ribbon
Sergeant Jackie Garrett
Sergeant Willie Tellis
Sergeant Glenn Thompson
Officer Rochelle Curr
Officer Robert Kerbs
Officer Timothy McCormick
Detective Alesha Morel
Officer Megan Pate
Officer Evelyn Roberts
Officer Christian Robles
Officer Michael Schneider
Officer Stephen Smith
Officer Kenneth Winters
Officer Dominique Zammit
Educational Achievement Ribbon
Sergeant Jackie Garrett
Sergeant Willie Tellis
Officer Megan Pate
Officer Evelyn Roberts
Officer Michael Schneider
