The department recognized recipients of its Lifesaving and Of the Year awards, while Chief聽Carl Metzger 鈥�03MS presented the prestigious Chief鈥檚 Award to a longtime staff member. The ceremony also recognized winners of commendations, community partnership awards and physical abilities awards.

After being nominated and voted on by their peers, winners were selected and reviewed by award committee members.

2024 Chief鈥檚, Of the Year and Lifesaving Award Winners

Chief鈥檚 Award: Christine Mouton ’98 ’01MS

With 20 years of dedication to 麻豆原创, Christine Mouton ’98 ’01MS exemplifies visionary, compassionate and effective leadership. Her unwavering commitment transformed Victim Services into a vital resource for those in need, significantly impacting Central Florida communities. Mouton鈥檚 leadership extends far beyond 麻豆原创, making her a key figure in disaster response organizations. She鈥檚 advocated for effective mass casualty responses and the support of families during crises. She鈥檚 responded to and established family and victim resource centers following 9/11, the Pulse nightclub tragedy and the Las Vegas mass casualty incidents. As an expert member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and FBI victim services committees, she helped guide the national response to victim assistance. Mouton鈥檚 extensive knowledge has made her a trusted resource in the Orlando community, addressing victim support and the root causes of violence. One of her most impressive accomplishments was helping develop a dating and domestic violence screening tool that identifies and support victims, creating a lasting impact on the 麻豆原创 community and the Orlando area. Additionally, as Public Safety鈥檚 grant manager, she secured and managed more than $3 million in funding for four departments throughout her career.

Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year: Andres Carbone

Mental health remains a growing concern, with many in the 麻豆原创 community facing challenges more than ever before. Thanks to Andres Carbone鈥檚 quick response to a call about a self-harm attempt, a student received the medical help she needed and was placed in protective custody. A week later, the student reached out to thank Carbone for his help and compassion, sharing that she was going through a tough time and recognized him from previous interactions, which made everything a little easier. Beyond this incident, Carbone also responded to two suicide attempts that resulted in Baker Acts.

Dispatcher of the Year: Grace Ehle

Dispatchers are an invaluable asset, not only supporting their agency and officers, but also serving as the reassuring voice the public depends on in emergencies. Grace Ehle is known for always staying one step ahead 鈥� anticipating the details officers need, checking security camera footage, reviewing prior contacts made or history with law enforcement. She maintains clear, concise communication in every situation, earning deep appreciation from several officers for her work.

DUI Officer of the Year: Isabella Sanchez

Ensuring our roads are safe is a shared responsibility, and the 麻豆原创 Police Department (麻豆原创PD) is dedicated to preventing impaired driving on campus and in the surrounding area. This award, based on statistics, recognizes the officer with the most DUI arrests of the year 鈥� seven in 2024. Although this number may seem modest, such arrests are often limited due to 麻豆原创PD鈥檚 jurisdictional boundaries and participation in county-wide details. Impaired drivers can cause devastating, life-altering crashes, and thanks to Isabella Sanchez鈥檚 efforts, seven potential tragedies were likely prevented.

Field Training Officer of the Year: Roman Watkins

麻豆原创PD sets high expectations for new officers, offering a comprehensive training program that includes eight weeks of classroom instruction followed by three months of field training with an experienced officer. Roman Watkins has consistently been available for all types of training, from supporting new officers-in-training on the night shift to assisting his squad and the agency with defensive tactics and firearms training, and even serving as an additional instructor during last year鈥檚 block training. Even beyond the field training offer phase, he continued to offer guidance and assistance, making himself available during his family leave after the birth of his first child.

Officer of the Year: Freddie Tirado Jr.

Freddie Tirado Jr. works tirelessly to make 麻豆原创鈥檚 campus a safe place for students, faculty and staff. His persistence in checking buildings and areas that are known for having trespassers led to several arrests in the first quarter of the year. During one of these patrols, he caught a burglary suspect in the act, resulting in an arrest and the return of the stolen items to their owner. Recognizing the importance of community engagement, Tirado Jr. took it upon himself to mentor and guide younger officers. Always available to help lead training for his squad, he consistently demonstrates a positive, can-do attitude while on shift.

Partner of the Year: Administration and Finance Information Technology

This team is essential to departmental operations, consistently going above and beyond to ensure the safety, security and efficiency of public safety. Their responsibilities, which include managing equipment, developing and maintaining websites, and protecting data, are vital for daily functions. In 2024, their contributions were especially impactful during the relocation of the Victim Services office, where they ensured continuous service for victims. They upgraded systems and implemented new software, improving crime data management and communication reliability. Their behind-the-scenes work directly impacted the safety of officers and the community, and their expertise, reliability, and dedication are integral to the agency鈥檚 success.

Professional Staff Member of the Year: Lindsay Beers

Whether identifying crime patterns, uncovering crucial details or providing immediate investigative support during calls, Lindsay Beers played a vital role in solving crimes and enhancing campus safety. She took initiative, regularly seeking out ways to help detectives work their cases 鈥� sometimes even before they鈥檇 been assigned. In 2024, she completed 41 bulletins, 23 work-ups, nine photo line ups and assisted in identifying suspects in several criminal cases. Not only is she an asset to the team professionally, she鈥檚 credited as being a pleasure to work with by her colleagues, and always cheerful and reliable.

Professional Staff Supervisor of the Year: Shawna Meyers

Shawna Meyers is an indispensable asset to 麻豆原创PD, juggling numerous roles and ensuring everything is done proficiently, professionally and correctly. Her expertise in handling paperwork, arrest packets, and evidence upholds the agency鈥檚 policies and procedures in court, and she is a knowledgeable resource for both officers and staff members. Meyers and her team also handled more than 2,600 public record requests last year, ensuring that the agency complied with state statute. Her friendly demeanor and willingness to provide guidance make her a joy to work with, and her contributions are immeasurable and essential to the department鈥檚 success.

Rookie of the Year: Adriel Rivera Aponte

Adriel Rivera Aponte has been an exceptional addition to the 麻豆原创PD team, surpassing expectations for a recruit. His name frequently appears in cases, not only for responding to calls, but also for his proactive patrolling, addressing suspicious individuals and conducting traffic stops. Additionally, he has demonstrated both skill and compassion in handling mental health-related calls, responding to three Baker Acts and four wellbeing checks in 2024. He also made 18 arrests, conducted 416 traffic stops and handled 11 drug-related calls in 2024.

Senior Leader of the Year: Steven Freund

Though most of his work happens behind-the-scenes, Steven Freund is an exceptional leader whose dedication and vision have profoundly impacted Public Safety. Under his leadership, his team has upgraded campus security technology that鈥檚 frequently used to prevent and solve crimes. He鈥檚 leveraged relationships with key campus stakeholders and is often consulted on major university construction projects across all four 麻豆原创 campuses. In 2024, the Department of Security started a camera replacement project and added license plate readers to parking garages, helping officers detect suspect vehicles. On a personal level, Freund continued his own professional development while his mentorship boosted team morale and contributed to professional growth.

Sworn Supervisor of the Year: Terrell Alexander ’18 ’23MS

Terrell Alexander ’18 ’23MS鈥檚 colleagues highly regard him as an outstanding supervisor who consistently prioritizes the well-being and development of his officers. He ensured that officers were available to represent 麻豆原创PD at necessary trainings and conferences while also advancing their individual educational growth. Always available for support when needed, Alexander trusted his team to do the right thing. Recently, he took on a new role in the Community Partnerships Unit, where he has hit the ground running.

Team of the Year: Victim Services (Mandy Broderick, Nick Dumercy, Christine Mouton, Olivia Oles and Laura Valle)

Despite their small size, the Victim Services team provides essential services and organizes impactful community events, such as the Greater Orlando Domestic Violence Vigil, Victims’ Rights Week and Denim Day. Last year, the team facilitated the 麻豆原创鈥檚 Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program trainings and delivered 14 educational presentations to various community members. Their emotional resilience and unwavering dedication are evident as they work on-call to provide continuous support for victims, even implementing a new chat feature on their website last year. In 2024, their department oversaw 319 cases, closing 266 of them 鈥� an impressive accomplishment despite staffing challenges and a physical office move.

Lifesaving Award: Adriel Rivera Aponte, Amber Charles and Elaina Little

In August, 麻豆原创PD was alerted that a former student was threatening self-harm but no location details were available. Dispatch Supervisor Amber Charles acted quickly, searching campus license plate readers and finding a hit from a parking garage. While officers responded, she searched the security cameras at the top of the garage and spotted a man sitting on a ledge. Officers Adriel Rivera Aponte and Elaina Little arrived, and after a brief conversation, Aponte pulled the former student to safety. A suicide note found nearby confirmed that their timely actions saved a life that day.

Lifesaving Award: Tommy Duhart

During a high school graduation ceremony, 麻豆原创PD received a call to help an elderly woman who was choking. Officer Tommy Duhart was the first to arrive on scene and immediately began performing the Heimlich maneuver. Within seconds, he successfully dislodged the food, allowing her to breathe. The woman was medically cleared and, thanks to Duhart, was able to watch her loved one walk across the stage.

Lifesaving Award: Frank Imparato

While heading to work last summer, Sergeant Frank Imparato noticed a man sitting on the ledge of an overpass in Maitland, Florida. After notifying the Maitland Police Department, Imparato approached the individual and began establishing a rapport with him. A Maitland officer soon arrived, and together they successfully talked the man away from the ledge and ensured he received the help he needed.

Lifesaving Award: Monica Quimbayo

When a 麻豆原创 student left a letter expressing suicidal thoughts, detective Monica Quimbayo jumped into action. She connected with the student over the phone, who shared feelings of depression and doubts about therapy. Through a casual conversation about an old rock band, Quimbayo kept the student engaged until help arrived. The student was safely located, placed under protective custody and later received mental health support under the Baker Act.

Each year, the department recognizes winners of their life-saving and Of the Year awards 鈥� who are featured more in depth below. Winners of commendations, community partnership awards and physical abilities awards are also recognized at the ceremony.

After being nominated and voted on by their peers, winners were selected and reviewed by award committee members.

2023 Of the Year and Life-saving Award Winners

Civilian Employee of the Year: Debbie Pope

Debbie Pope has one of the most difficult positions in the department, yet seems to manage it with ease and grace. She studied vigorously to attain her Clery Compliance Officer Certification 鈥� becoming the first person to ever achieve this prestigious status at 麻豆原创 鈥� and has successfully created and launched a Clery Compliance Webcourses training module. To determine who needed to take this required training, she led the effort for the Campus Security Authority (CSA) Identification project, working alongside HR and Compliance to review thousands of job codes at 麻豆原创 to identify potential CSAs on campus. Pope is fiercely passionate about coordinating fundraising events to support Special Olympics and has worked with them on both a local and national level to bring ideas and enthusiasm to their mission.

Civilian Supervisor of the Year: Michael Charles

Michael Charles has been a part of the public safety team for more than 20 years, consistently leading by example. With staffing shortages plaguing the 麻豆原创 Police Department (麻豆原创PD)鈥檚 Communications Center, he was always available to cover shifts, even canceling a weeklong planned vacation to assist with coverage. He racked up over 400 hours of overtime, with more than 50 12-hour shifts. Charles has provided critical training to several new dispatchers, often while also taking calls on night shift, and regularly checks in with his teammates both personally and professionally.

Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year: Roman Watkins

Mental health is a growing concern, as we have seen those in our community struggle more than ever before. Officer Roman Watkins has been involved with multiple de-escalations, with the most noteworthy one being his response to a student who was threatening to jump off of a campus parking garage. Once on scene, Officer Watkins established a rapport with the individual by listening to what was troubling him. The student agreed to a voluntary Baker Act but was worried about his family not being able to contact him. Officer Watkins went above and beyond and, after getting permission, contacted the student鈥檚 mother to tell her where he would be and how she could get ahold of him.

Dispatcher of the Year: Tiffany Ortiz

Dispatchers are an invaluable asset that not only affect their agency and its officers, but also members of the public who depend on that voice on the other end of the phone in an emergency. Since joining 麻豆原创PD in 2022, Tiffany Ortiz has made a significant impact in the two years she has been here. She is always willing to fill in due to staffing shortages and recently earned a certification to assist with training new dispatchers. Ortiz received several nominations, all of which praised her calm demeanor and ability to relay information quickly and effectively, often before officers even ask.

DUI Officer of the Year: Jeffrey Hopkins

It鈥檚 up to all of us to keep our roads safe, and 麻豆原创PD is committed to stopping impaired driving on campus and in the surrounding area. The DUI Officer of the Year award is given based on statistics, and this year was a tie between two officers, who both had officer Jeffrey Hopkins led the charge with five DUI arrests in 2023. While this number may not seem exceptionally large, these types of arrests are often limited due to 麻豆原创PD鈥檚 jurisdictional boundaries and participation in county-wide details. Impaired drivers can forever change the lives of hundreds of people in a fatal crash, but because of the efforts of these two officers, 10 of them never had the chance.

Officer of the Year: Lee Smith

It was clear from the start that when officer Lee Smith joined 麻豆原创PD, he had an immeasurable heart of service and a willingness to always try to do the right thing. He excelled in 2023 鈥� from becoming a patrol investigator and Field Training Officer to receiving his certification as a drone operator. He found his niche by enforcing traffic laws on our campus and holding violators accountable for dangerous driving, which is critical to public safety on a campus with thousands of vehicles and pedestrians every day. In 2023, Smith completed 780 traffic stops, issued 683 traffic citations and made 28 traffic-related arrests as a result. Due to his enforcement, he effectively changed the driving patterns of our campus community to a safer and law-abiding environment.

Partner of the Year: Luz Garcia

Luz Garcia is responsible for keeping 麻豆原创PD in tip-top shape. She always has a smile on her face and is kind to everyone she meets. Often required to work holidays and over breaks, she goes out of her way to ensure everyone has what they need and isn鈥檛 afraid to alert her supervisors if she notices something wrong in the building. One nomination cited an example when she came rushing over to help clean up a spill and insisted the person leave to go pick up their child from school while she took care of the mess.

Rookie of the Year: Andres Carbone

Although law enforcement is not new to officer Andres Carbone, in his brief time here at 麻豆原创 he has quickly become one of the most proactive officers in the agency. As a Drug Recognition Expert, he consistently volunteers his time for DUI cases and frequently assists in setting up training for his squad. He has worked closely with our detectives on cases to sharpen his investigative skills and has expressed interest in threat management training. Officer Carbone has brought experience from previous agencies and applied it to ours, contributing to the success of our department and officers.

Sworn Supervisor of the Year: Pete Stephens

Sgt. Pete Stephens officially oversees a small team of civilian employees but also supervises countless officers working traffic and special event details. Often called the 鈥渂ackbone of the department鈥� and the 鈥渉ardest working guy in the building,鈥� he is pivotal in ensuring campus events are staffed, often volunteering for details himself when there are not enough officers to fill spots and providing extensive manual labor to ensure successful and safe events. He is incredibly busy, but always willing to lend a hand or support his team. Stephens is an exceptional problem-solver 鈥� probably due to his love of puzzles and Wordle 鈥� and always willing to work with others to produce creative solutions to issues.

Team of the Year: Threat Management (Bianca Becker, Allura Bennett, Delaney Kirwin-Moore, Frank Imparato)

Keeping the 麻豆原创 campus safe and secure is a big job, and one we do not take lightly at 麻豆原创 Public Safety. That鈥檚 why we assess all potential threats and persons of concerns that are reported to us and the university. For the past year, this four-person team has a true passion for the work they do. They were instrumental in maintaining the level of care and service the team is expected to, while also developing it for the better. These individuals have maintained and built relationships with campus and community partners, presented at 12 different college campuses, attended the Master Trainer program, presented and attended several conferences and meetings across the state 鈥� all on top of their regular duties and case load.

Life-saving award: Alan Elliot, Katie Marts, Dan Ryley

A student sustained life-threatening injuries after crashing headfirst into a brick wall while riding an electric scooter near the Recreation and Wellness Center. Sgt. Alan Elliot and officer Dan Ryley were able to provide aid while waiting for Orange County Fire Rescue to arrive, including clearing the patient鈥檚 airway several times and applying direct pressure to his wound. Officer Katie Marts was also on-scene to check for any additional injuries and provide support. The patient was ultimately transported as a trauma alert to the hospital in critical, unstable condition, where his family was told that he likely would not have survived without the aid provided by officers.

Life-saving award: Anthony Mancuso

When a fatigued student crashed into a light pole on campus and flipped her vehicle, officer Anthony Mancuso sprang into action. The student was uninjured in the crash, but fluid was leaking from the car with live wires nearby. After assessing the situation, Mancuso quickly began punching the windshield with only a gloved hand to rescue her and suffered significant cuts in the process. He was later transported to the hospital and received several stitches.