Sheriff's Office Awards 8 Influential Youngsters In Sarasota Community

SARASOTA, FL – The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office recognized eight local young people who made an impact on the agency and its personnel in 2016.

The Sheriff’s Office’s Community Affairs department hosted a luncheon and awards presentation on the last working day of the year. During the event on Friday, Dec. 30, each honoree was presented with a certificate and recognized as an Honorary Deputy by Col. Kurt A. Hoffman.

“The things these young people have done for our personnel is beyond words,” said Community Affairs Director Kaitlyn Perez. “As challenging as a career in law enforcement can be, it’s moments like these which remind us what a profound impact our community has on the work we do.”

The people who were honored were:

Anna Cate and Michael Barry

Anna Cate and Michael Barry threw a party for the sheriff’s office K-9 instead of celebrating their own birthdays. In early December, the brother and sister teamed up with Woofgang Bakery in Sarasota to collect gifts and raise money for the K-9 Unit’s medical fund. More than 100 community members attended the event.

K-9 handlers and their partners surprised the crowd with special demonstrations and presented gifts to Anna Cate and Michael. The Barry Family and Woofgang Bakery presented a $1,000 check to the sheriff’s office.

The Galloway Family

In early August, Gemma Gallaway and her three children Bradin, Daniel and Jacob, visited the sheriff’s office at 2071 Ringling Blvd. in Sarasota to present the agency with goodie bags on behalf of Freedom Christian Church. About a dozen uniformed agency members accepted the gifts and support.

Grace Weigman

Back in July, Grace Weigman invited Deputy Michael Brooks to her 9th birthday party. Weigman is a student at Oak Park School, where Brooks is the school resource deputy. When Brooks was unable to attend, Lt. Dale Barshinger and Sgt. Cliff Legg came in his stead with a sheriff’s office patch and badge to swear in Grace.

Often referred to as “Amazing Grace,” the 9-year-old is one of only 150 in the world battling Robinow Syndrome, which affects the development of many parts of the body, specifically the bones. A photo posted to the sheriff’s office Facebook Page of Grace, Legg and Barshinger received national media attention.

A special 5-year-old

A 5-year-old child, whose name cannot be published, and his Guardian Ad Litem met Sgt. Gerardo Carrillo over the summer at a gas station in Sarasota. Carrillo approached the child in an attempt to give him a “Be Our Guest” coupon for a free Happy Meal. The program, sponsored by McDonald’s, recognizes children practicing safety and making good choices

Based on the child’s tumultuous past and fear of law enforcement, he was hesitant to take the coupon. In an effort to connect with the child, the Guardian Ad Litem suggested to stop by the child’s school where he was most comfortable.

Carrillo made a surprise visit to the school, brining stickers, coloring books and more for each student of the class. Since that day, the child and Carrillo’s relationship has continued to grow and the child no longer fears law enforcement. Carrillo has continued to act as a liaison and resource to both the child and his Guardian Ad Litem.

Randy Beaverson

Randy Beaverson, 26, of Sarasota, first met Deputy John Fandozzi of the sheriff’s office Marine Unit in April. The Beaverson family approached the sheriff’s office vessel at Marina Jack, and Fandozzi stepped off the boat and met Beaverson with a handshake and several sheriff’s office mementos. A few weeks lator Fandozz invited Beaverson to join him for a day on the water during the agency’s annual fishing tournament. The Beaverson family expressed their gratitude to the sheriff’s office for giving Randy something to look forward to after a series of life-threatening surgeries over the past year.

Images courtesy of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office