SAR Honors Local Law Enforcement Officers

SARASOTA -- Law enforcement personnel from seven local departments were recently honored. These Deputies, Detectives and Police Officers, nine in all, together with their supervisors and/or wives were the guests of the Saramana Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution at their annual Law Enforcement Awards luncheon held Friday, 8 April 2011 at the Lido Key Holiday Inn, Sarasota.  
 
Setting the tone for the awards ceremony to follow, the immediate Past President and Master of Ceremonies for the event, Harold Crapo, Jr. narrated prose entitled "Not Just Cops" which was an observation taken from the eyes of a Cops Widow. 
 
Present from Manatee County were the following:

Detective James F. Curulla, BPD

Chief of Police Michael Radzilowski, nominated Detective James F. Curulla for the SAR Law Enforcement Medal and Certificate. Detective Curulla was selected for his investigative skills in solving two brutal crimes against women in Bradenton and a string of violent robberies that plagued both Manatee and Sarasota Counties. The two attacks which occurred just three months apart in the Spring of 2009 were eerily similar; both committed by an armed suspect wearing black including a black ski mask, and resulting in personal injuries to the victims,  requiring medical attention.  

Five months later, September 2009, the Venice Police Department advised the Sarasota Sheriff's Office of a possible suspect then in custody of the United States Marshal's Service. Venice Police Department subsequently recovered stolen property from the suspect's residence. This cooperative nature of our law enforcement community enabled Detective Curulla the tools needed to develop enough probable cause to charge the suspect with the 16 February and 20 April 2009 attacks in northwest Bradenton. This effort by Detective Curulla helped to remove a dangerous criminal from our streets. 

From Left, Deputies John Lawson and Bryce Meade MSO

Manatee County Sheriff Brad Steube nominated Deputies Bryce Meade, Michael Gerholdt and John Lawson for the SAR Law Enforcement Hero Award. In December 2010 all three Deputies were awarded the 2010 Deputy of the Year for their actions in January of 2010.

Their outstanding teamwork during a structural fire to a single dwelling home allowed them to rescue an elderly paralyzed woman lying in a burning hospital bed while connected to medical tubes and wires.  They re-entered the burning building to rescue the woman’s husband, who was attempting to put out the raging fire and also rescued the family’s two pets. Their special dedicated training and Teamwork, allowed them to be successful in their rescue efforts.  

Palmetto Chief of Police Charles Wells nominated Detective Chad Oyler for the SAR Law Enforcement Award based on his successful involvement in solving 3 homicides and 1 attempted homicide during 2010.