City Police Receive Awards

Sarasota Police Chief Mikel Hollaway celebrated the achievements of his force in 2010 with medals and commendations on March 17. More than 90 officers were recognized.

Detective Robert Armstrong received the “sworn employee of the year” and a meritorious service medal. He started and led a three-year investigation to break up what became known as the “SRQ Cartel.” The group was responsible for bringing 25 kilos of cocaine each month into the Sarasota-Manatee area. Jesus “Jessie” Guzman (aka Antonio Marroquin) was pegged as the key man. He and 11 others were arrested on federal charges in January. Seized were four kilos of cocaine, $250,000 in cash and $1 million in property.

Two Drug Enforcement Agency men, one Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agent and an assistant U.S. Attorney also received meritorious service medals from Chief Hollaway for their contribution in breaking up the “SRQ Cartel.” The bust received a five-paragraph story in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

The “sworn supervisor of the year” was Sgt. Eric Bolden, who is an acting lieutenant in the SPD. The 20-year veteran took on the duties of a lieutenant during a hiring freeze without the rank or pay to serve as a shift commander. He was also the first person to receive a new decoration – the “community service award” for his 15 years of volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club. He also coached the football teams at Sarasota and Booker High Schools.

Fifteen officers received the “life-saving medal,” for saving a heart attack victim, an elderly man in the water, and rescuing a would-be suicide from the Ringling Causeway Bridge.

Interruption of a pharmacy burglary on January 19, 2010 earned three officers the distinguished service medal, and for Officer Todd Tschetter the medal of valor, the unit’s highest award. The armed robber was confronted in a Walgreen’s full of customers. “They knew they couldn’t leave children inside with a drug-influenced robber with a gun, so they went in after him,” said Captain Paul Sutton.

Five civilians were honored for their help. Two convenience store clerks tackled a purse-snatcher and held him until officers arrived. Two assisted police in breaking up air-conditioning theft rings. And one witnessed a murder, identified the murderer and testified at his trial – despite his efforts to have her murdered to prevent her testimony.

An entire shift of 20 officers received a unit commendation, plus 12 sheriff’s deputies following a May 15 murder at 27th Street and Washington Court. Sergeant James Rieser was the first to arrive, and attempted first aid on the victim. A crowd of more than 200 people gathered, and there was additional gunfire. Back-up officers arrived from both the SPD and SSO to keep order, defuse the situation and maintain the integrity of the crime scene.

Two more unit commendations were awarded, following the discovery in late July of a burnt and dismembered body near the Sarasota-Bradenton airport. The SPD crimes against persons unit and the criminalistics (forensics) unit received the awards for piecing together the identify of the victim, and back-tracking to an apartment that was the scene of the murder. Three people were arrested and convicted.

The detective bureau received a unit award, as did the information technology’s four-man team. Detectives broke up a air-conditioning theft ring, while the IT team kept the computers fully operational during the shift from the old police headquarters to the new one.             

The civilian employee of the year is Paul Schumway, head of the building maintenance department (and at times the only member). In the Autumn his normal cleaning and maintenance duties expanded hugely as the department moved into new headquarters. His unstinting service was acknowledged not only by the chief, but with a huge round of applause from the audience.            

Hollaway told an overflow crowd at the SPD’s community meeting room, “I’m proud to work for these people. They truly are outstanding.”