BPD Detective Honored as "Hero Among Us

BRADENTON – Last week, Detective 1st Grade Michael Skoumal of the Bradenton Police Department was named a recipient of the 2013 Law Enforcement “Hero Among Us” award. BPD Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski nominated Detective Skoumal based on his dedicated service and personal achievement in the high-liability, specialty field of narcotics en­forcement.

L to R: Deputy Chief of Police Warren Merriman, Detective Michael Skoumal, and Bradenton City Ward 2 Councilman Gene Brown

Detective Skoumal was lauded for not only his understanding of narcotics investigations, and the impact of his work on the community by eliminating drugs, but also his compassion for the addicted. Skoumal has assisted many addicted individuals by giving them a second chance through recommending them to a local substance abuse program.

The Manatee County Substance Abuse Coalition, along with the Manatee County Youth Commission presented the award at the “Heroes Among Us” awards ceremony, which was hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates at their Pirate City facility.

The event is centered around the national Red Ribbon Campaign, which was established by Congress in 1988 to honor the memory of United States DEA Agent Enrique “KiKi” Camarena who was killed in the line of duty while on assignment in Mexico. This campaign is the nation’s largest substance abuse prevention campaign.

Additional 2013 “Hero Among Us” (Law Enforcement) award winners were Detective Todd Zink, Detective Kim Zink, and Deputy Grant Steube of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office; Officer Roy Lovett, and Officer Nicholas Ligman of the Palmetto Police Department.

“Hero Among Us” (Fire/EMT) award winners were Engineer Adam McDaniel, and Firefighter David Manning of the East Manatee Fire District; Charge Paramedic Maria Lowery, and Paramedic Suzie Leonard of Manatee County EMS.