Heroes in Public Safety
In this section:Chris Connell served as director of the Capitol Police and was a 28-year veteran of the Tallahassee Police Department. He passed suddenly in October 2019 at the age of 59. Director Connell served on the original steering committee for the Heroes in Public Safety (HIPS) program and was passionate about ensuring that rank-and-file public safety personnel was honored as a part of the program. In honor of his commitment to the public safety sector, our community, and the HIPS program, these awards have been named in his honor.
The awards are given in three categories:
- Unsung Hero Award recognizes those who have made exemplary accomplishments in the past year
- Incident Awards honor those who have demonstrated an act of outstanding bravery in the line of duty
- Young Professional Award highlights those who have shown a level of commitment, service, and professionalism often unseen in someone so new to the field
Past Honorees
2025
Incident Award Honorees
- Brandon Baumann, Deputy, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Faith Baumann, Deputy, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Lonnie Brevik, Officer Specialist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Michael Carroll, Investigator, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Alex Garcia, Deputy Sheriff, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Henry Keels, Officer, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- John Lejarzar, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Timothy Roche, Deputy Sheriff, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Amanda Simmons, Officer, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Incident Team Award Recipients for Team Bridge Rescue:
- Brandon Alexander, Quincy Fire Department
- Greg Allen, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Troy Anzalone, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Seth Blessing, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Josh Ciarlariello, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Darrius Dudley, Quincy Fire Department
- Ivy Gillette, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Drew Hayward, Gadsden County EMS
- Danny Hunter, Gretna Fire Department
- Shavarris Jackson, Quincy Fire Department
- Chaddrick Jenkins, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Elizebeth “DiDi” Johnson, Midway Fire Department
- Ty Kelly, Gadsden County EMS
- Kyle Mann, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Robert McCown, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Chase Miley, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Caleb Miller, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Dr. Joe Parramore, Gretna Fire Department
- Thomas Pendleton-Jett, Quincy Fire Department
- Josh Pinto, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Josh Ray, Midway Fire Volunteers
- Kris Robinson, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Ryan Shealy, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Ethan Smith, Gadsden County EMS
- Sam Tenorio, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Jonathan Witmer, Gadsden County EMS
- Nathanial Yarusso, Midway Fire Volunteers
- Incident Team Award Recipients for Team Water Rescue:
- Gabriel Beyer, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Lance Butler, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Tien Cao, Leon County EMS
- Elisa Carter, Tallahassee Police Department
- Jazmine Dudley, Leon County EMS
- Michael Eastman, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Zachary Fernandez, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Kieran Fry, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Liliana Garcia, Leon County EMS
- Jamel Gavin, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Lena Head, Leon County EMS
- Jeremy Jordan, Leon County EMS
- Shania Lape, Leon County EMS
- Jonathan Owens, Tallahassee Police Department
- Michelle Siples-Ward, Leon County EMS
- Kirshner Saint-Charles, Tallahassee Fire Department
- John Tillotson, Tallahassee Fire Department
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- Michael Abbey, Public Safety Communications Specialist, Consolidated Dispatch Agency
- Rachel Bryant, Captain, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Reginald Byrd, Supervisor, Florida Department of Corrections
- Jeremy Gordon, Special Agent Supervisor, Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- Jack Hypes, Trooper, Florida Highway Patrol
- Hazen Ogden, Sergeant, Florida Highway Patrol
- Christopher Wells, Master State Trooper, Florida Highway Patrol
- Brad White, Master Corporal, Florida Highway Patrol
- Malachi Wilkins, Officer Specialist, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Kentazha (KB) Bradshaw, First Responder, Consolidated Dispatch Agency
- Caleb Harper, Firefighter/EMT, Wakulla County Fire Rescue
- Reserve Deputy Sheriff with Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office
- Hekia Jackson, Sergeant, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
2024
Incident Award Honorees
- Caleb Babb, Tallahassee Police Department
- Jeffrey Brady, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Randall Brooks, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Kelsey Dalton, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- William DeMars, Tallahassee Police Department
- Loren Drew, Tallahassee Police Department
- Brandon Eastman, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Matthew Hannon, Florida Highway Patrol
- Raymond Hatchman, Leon County EMS
- Hayley Hengstebeck, Leon County EMS
- Luke Krupinski, Florida Highway Patrol
- Caleb McLeod, Leon County EMS
- Chase Miley, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Adam Mospens, Leon County EMS
- Steven Turner, Florida Highway Patrol
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- Dennis Bogusky, Florida Highway Patrol
- David Brunner, Florida Highway Patrol
- Felecia T.J Fowler, Department of Juvenile Justice
- Christine Gracey, Florida Highway Patrol
- Amber Lawson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Courtney Clanton, Florida Department of Corrections
- Migdalisis Garcia, Florida Highway Patrol
- Mychara Johnson, Florida Department of Corrections
- Daniel Salazar, Florida Department of Corrections
- Alessandra Shepherd, Consolidated Dispatch Agency
2023
Incident Award Honorees
- Matthew “Kale” Davis, Florida Highway Patrol
- Jacob Moore, Florida Highway Patrol
- Autumn Moore, Tallahassee Police Department
- Toni Schuck, Florida Highway Patrol
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- Andrea Blalock, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Amelia Hardwick, Florida Department of Corrections
- Suzanne Joyner, Florida Department of Correction
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Christian Foster, Leon County Emergency Management Services
- Amanda Hall, Florida Department of Corrections
- Elizabeth Lenair, Florida Department of Corrections
2022
Incident Award Honorees
- Scott Ault, Tallahassee Police Department
- Ricky Binet, Florida Highway Patrol
- Ryan Dunphy, Tallahassee Police Department
- Alexander Lara, Florida Highway Patrol
- Ashley Reagle, Florida Highway Patrol
- Horlkins Saget, Florida Highway Patrol
- Megan Stiles, Florida Highway Patrol
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- April Bishop, Tallahassee Police Department
- Steve Britt, Tallahassee Police Department
- Princilla Brown-Jefferson, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
- Bill Collins, Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Darbie Gibson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Anthony Gioannetti, Florida State University Police Department
- Kevin Kleis, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Jessica Pfohl, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Brianne Shaut, Tallahassee Police Department
- Marcin Trawinksi, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Lance Butler, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Carlos Castillo, Florida Highway Patrol
- Cody Hatt, Florida Highway Patrol
- Tiffany Maxwell-Melgarejo, Panama City Beach Probations
2021
2020