April
19, 2018
Contact:
Officer Mike Wood, PIO
(850) 393-1633
Today
five Pensacola Police Officers and one civilian were presented with awards
during a ceremony at City Hall. They were selected to receive the awards by
their peers and Chief Tommi Lyter for outstanding service to the department,
and to the community.
Detective Lisa Alverson has been named PPD Officer of
the Year for 2018.
She also recently was presented a Meritorious Service
Award for outstanding achievement in the line of duty in finding the person who
murdered a woman in her driveway in February 2013.
The case took many twists and turns over the course of
the investigation and eventually went cold; however, Detective Alverson’s
perseverance and determination paid off in June 2017 when the suspect was finally
arrested.
During the six years she has been
assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, Detective Alverson has
participated in major investigations and also has been instrumental in
assisting her peers as a mentor, usually without self-recognition. Here are
just a few examples of her work:
- In December
2017, she was instrumental in arresting a man wanted in connection with 32
burglaries that had occurred in the North Hill area. Throughout the
investigation, she relentlessly pursued information on the suspect, even
when investigative strategies and operations were not always successful.
- In June 2017,
she was recognized by the department for her participation in “Operation
Undertow,” which netted multiple arrests of men who traveled with the
intent to have sex with children.
- She has served
for several years as a member of the department’s Child Abduction Response
Team. In June 2017, she helped the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office and
Florida Department of Law Enforcement search for a missing/abducted
juvenile who unfortunately had been murdered. She was later recognized by
the FDLE for her participation in that investigation.
- In May 2017, she
assisted another detective investigating a grand theft and credit card
fraud. She was not only able to elicit a confession from the suspect for
that case, but during the investigation, it was determined the same
suspect was responsible for a number of violent armed robberies outside
city jurisdiction. One again, she interviewed the suspect and the
confession she was able to get was instrumental in solving the case.
- Perhaps her most
notable effort of 2017 occurred in June when her tenacity paid off on a
cold case homicide from 2013. Detective Alverson repeatedly investigated
leads as they occurred throughout the years in this case. Although she
believed she knew the suspect had murdered his girlfriend, she had
insufficient evidence to charge him. She was finally able to arrest the suspect on June 6, 2017 after finding a witness who had previously been afraid to talk to police because of safety concerns for his family.
No matter what is asked of him – nor
when – Lt. Stephen Bauer has always answered the call, met the goal and usually
gone beyond expectations.
For example, this year he was the
coordinator for the first Pensacola’s Finest 5K, which brought in just under
$6,500 for the American Cancer Society as part of the Relay for Life. He
recruited volunteers to do everything from handing out run packets and doing
registration to manning intersections and water stations, sought
donors/sponsors for food, shirts, etc. for participants, and then participated
in the run as part of the PPD Team. Once the run ended, he saw that leftover
food was donated to a church that was serving breakfast to the homeless that
morning.
Last year he was the team captain for
Team Pensacola Police during the department’s participation in the Relay for
Life, which raised approximately $7,100 for the American Cancer Society. He spent
many hours getting volunteers, challenging people to donate just a bit more
once one monetary goal was met and it looked like they could reach another,
setting up and taking down equipment at the walk, etc.
This makes approximately $13,600
Lieutenant Bauer has been instrumental in raising for the American Cancer
Society within just about a year.
Because of his outstanding dedication
to the community and the department, Lieutenant Stephen Bauer was presented the
Chief’s Award.
As if working as the Pensacola Police
Department’s Fleet Manager and Special Events Coordinator weren’t enough,
Sergeant Jamie Briarton often is tasked with pulling together a variety of
projects.
Recently, he was a major organizer of the Guns and Hoses BBQ Contest and
Kickball Tournament at Community Maritime Park. He also secured donors and
devoted many hours above and beyond regular duties to ensure the event was a
success. Last year, Sergeant Briarton also
organized a charity softball tournament and was able to get three additional
public safety agencies to participate plus secure more than 40 sponsors.
Proceeds from that event went to the Rally Foundation for childhood cancer
research.
Because of his outstanding and extended
service to the department and to the public, Sergeant Jamie Briarton was
presented the Chief’s Award.
Officer
Pearce Baker’s assignments during his career at the Pensacola Police Department
have molded him into the officer he is today. But most recently, his assignment to
the Operational Support Division have helped make him the “go to guy” for many
within the department. Not only is he responsible for such
regular duties as tax/wrecker inspections, managing on-line reports, managing
the two speed trailers, and attending various events within the community, but
also he goes above and beyond his regular duties to help organize special
events, secure donors and then devote many hours to ensure events are a
success.
Since
becoming a Pensacola Police officer in October 2011, David Partrick has
repeatedly demonstrated his capabilities and interest in helping others. Not only has he been assigned to the
Uniform Patrol Division, but also he currently is a detective in the Criminal
Investigations Division plus is an active member of the SWAT team. Yet Detective Partrick still finds
time to reach out into the community and help others.
For example, he has helped collect
food donations for Manna Food Bank, mentors a child through Big Brothers/Big
Sisters of Northwest Florida, volunteers through his church to coach basketball
and provide fellowship/guidance to members, feeds the homeless through a church
program, and uses funds from a Christian clothing line he owns to help disabled
children
enjoy the outdoors.
Because of his outstanding dedication
to the community and to the department, Detective David Partrick was presented
the Chief’s Award.
Patrick's wife Jennifer also was presented a Citizen's Award for support and participation in community projects such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, volunteering with numerous projects at her church, feeding the homeless through a church program, and supporting the Pensacola Police Department's community outreach efforts.