Manatee sheriff’s office honors colleagues in 23rd annual awards ceremony

Deputies, civilians, investigators and administrators joined to honor their colleagues during the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office 23rd annual awards banquet on Friday.

The event, held at Renaissance on 9th in Bradenton, honored multiple employees and volunteers, with the office handing out four major awards.

“All of you work together to serve the needs of our community. Every single unit is important, we do not operate without each unit doing their job,” said Sheriff Rick Wells. “Every part of this agency is a family, when we fall, we pick each other back up, we brush off, and we keep working because that what we do.”

The Robert & Dan E. Molter Memorial Award went to volunteer Leroy Anaclerio, who had volunteered more than 150 hours at the sheriff’s office fleet department. Anaclerio’s positive personality, along with his willingness to help, the sheriff’s office said, significantly improved the efficiency of the department. His many hours volunteered, officials said, saved the agency more than $13,000.

Child Protective Services employee Jo-Ann Steiff was named Employee of the Year for a case involving serious health concerns of three children. Steiff, the sheriff’s office said, received the award for her efforts on the follow-up that she wasn’t assigned and her search for proof of neglect that led to a positive outcome for the children.

The Beall’s Humanitarian Award went to Deputy Krystle Moore-Aguilera who on many occasions helped needy families throughout the year, the sheriff’s office said. She bought several pizza pies for a family with little food, milk for an infant who didn’t have any and counseled and eventually saved a woman’s life from domestic abuse.

The final award, Deputy of the Year, which is normally given out to one deputy, was awarded to two special investigation detectives who need to remain unnamed, said sheriff’s spokesman Dave Bristow. The two deputies have been undercover and are currently working dangerous cases that prevent them from being identified.

The two received the award due to their work in a five-year case that involved an investigation into a violent gang that used extreme violence to collect drug debts, enforce territory and more, officials said.

Both detectives worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and worked several nights and weekends to conduct interviews and surveillance, and helped collect hundreds of pieces of evidence. Their efforts eventually resulted in six defendants receiving 19 life sentences for their involvement in racketeering, drug distribution and seven homicides, the sheriff’s office said.

“Receiving this award was definitely a shock,” one deputy said. “There were so many people on this case. We certainly didn’t expect it. We’re so grateful.”

Sheriff Wells took to the podium to thank his employees for their work throughout the year.

“God does not promise us tomorrow. ... Remember your families and loved ones and don’t ever miss an opportunity to tell them how much you care for them and how much you love them because we never know if we’re going to have that chance again,” Wells said. “I am honored to be your sheriff. ... I am the sheriff, but you are the sheriff’s office. You are the ones who make me proud.”

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Manatee sheriff’s office honors colleagues in 23rd annual awards ceremony."