RAFFLE TICKET WINNERS

 Steve Schmidt

David Gethers

John Tringali

Jeff Ross

2016 Award Winners

Florida Highway Patrol – Sergeant Kurt Hardley

100 Club Award

The Florida Highway Patrol would like to nominate retired Sergeant Kurt Hardley for the annual 100 Club Award for his years of outstanding service to the citizens of Palm Beach County. Hardley joined the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) in September 1983; after graduating from the FHP Academy he was assigned to Troop E – Miami, where he was a member of the DUI squad and one of the original 10 motor men in the state. He transferred to Palm Beach County in 1988 and shortly thereafter he was assigned to the Highway Drug Interdiction Squad. For the next 12 years he along with his K-9 and felony partner, were responsible for seizing hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit funds and vehicles used to transport illegal narcotics along the highways of Palm Beach County.  The team also recovered hundreds of kilograms of cocaine, along with thousands of pounds of marijuana and other illegal drugs.  He promoted in 2004 to Corporal as a Traffic Homicide Investigator, where he investigated traffic fatalities in Broward and Palm Beach County.

He was promoted to Sergeant in 2005, supervising the Troop L Traffic Homicide Investigation (THI) program, which was responsible for investigating traffic fatalities in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee County.  This is a huge area covering over 6500 square miles, with a population of nearly 4 million residents.  He was responsible for 13 investigators and reviewing hundreds of traffic homicide reports a year, ensuring that the reports were professionally written and that the cases were thoroughly investigated. Through the years Hardley established working relationships, with the State Attorney’s Office, medical examiners and other law enforcement agencies. Hardley always took the time to assist his investigators, other law enforcement agencies and often spoke to family members of the deceased keeping them apprised of the investigation.

He spent over 10 years in charge of the THI program, before making a decision to retire on January 31, 2016. Sergeant Kurt Hardley is to be commended for over 32 years of exemplary service. His commitment, passion and professionalism was demonstrated in everything he did; he truly exemplified the high standards of the Florida Highway Patrol.

100 CLUB – OFFICER OF THE YEAR

OFFICER CORNELIUS RILEY

The Boca Raton Police Services Department is honored to present Officer Cornelius Riley to the 100 Club of South Palm Beach County as our 2015 Officer of the Year. Officer Riley began his career with the Police Department in October of 1993. In December of 1999, Officer Riley found his niche in the Special Services Division. Since that time, he has greatly influenced the lives of so many people through his day-to- day community policing activity and through his participation in programs such as Safe Kids, GREAT, DARE, National Night Out Against Crime, Cops & Lobsters, Shop with a Cop, the Annual Sweetheart’s Ball and the Make a Wish Foundation, just to name a few.

Officer Riley’s pleasant, professional, caring and respectful approach has made him a great resource and extremely accessible to our citizens, schools and his colleagues in law enforcement. Wherever he goes, people routinely call out to him and they feel exceptionally comfortable approaching him to express community concerns or to simply Officer Riley’s performance in 2015 was particularly outstanding. Most notably, he was recognized for saving a life, skillfully coordinating a stolen vehicle investigation, going well above the call of duty to help an elderly resident get her life back in order and contributing to the success of our many community programs. Officer Riley aptly represents the values and qualities which make our Department great, and we gladly nominate him for this prestigious award.

Deputy Brandon Serraes #19471 for Deputy Sheriff of the Year

South Palm Beach County 100 Club

I believe he is deserving of this honor due to his heroic actions on November 7, 2015.  The facts of the incident are as follows: PBSO Communications received a 911 telephone call from an individual residing at 2068 Wolverton D, Boca Raton, Florida. The caller, later identified as Ruth Krieger, was frantically yelling for help due to a fire that started in her Century Village apartment. Deputy Sheriff Brandon Serraes was in the area when the call was dispatched and immediately responded.

Deputy Serraes was first to arrive on scene and immediately observed an active fire coming out of a second floor apartment. Without hesitation, Deputy Serraes ran upstairs and attempted to make contact with the occupants, who managed to leave the front door open.  Deputy Serraes yelled several announcements into the apartment and initially did not get any response. Despite the thick smoke that was consuming the apartment, he was able to see a male and female inside who were both sitting inside coughing but not moving. Deputy Serraes continued to give verbal directions to get them out, but they both appeared to be in shock.  Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Deputy Serraes took a deep breath and went inside where he first encountered Ruth Krieger struggling to breathe. She was fading in and out of consciousness. Deputy Serraes guided her out of the smoke filled apartment, into the hallway, then downstairs where he told her to wait for Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. Once Mrs. Krieger was safe, Deputy Serraes ran back upstairs into the smoke filled apartment where he attempted to get the male, Byron Krieger, out of the fire by picking him up and carrying him out. It was at this time the seriousness of Mr. Krieger’s injuries were apparent to Deputy Serraes due to his clothes being burned off his body. Fearing further injury by moving him, Deputy Serraes dragged Mr. Krieger out of the apartment, into the hallway, and downstairs in the chair he was sitting in which was still on fire.  Mr. and Mrs. Krieger were both transported to Delray Medical Center for treatment.

Mr. Krieger was transferred to Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Burn Unit for more advanced treatment, where he succumbed to the third degree burns covering more than 80 percent of his body. Ruth Krieger was treated for smoke inhalation and later released to make a full recovery. What we now know is that Mr. Krieger, a decorated Olympic fencing champion, was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. He was attempting to light a candle to signify the beginning of the Sabbath when he accidentally dropped a lit match in his lap which started the fatal fire.

Deputy Serraes demonstrated great courage, heroism and bravery on that night and voluntarily risked his own life and exposed himself to personal hazard and danger by entering the burning apartment, inhaling toxic smoke – not once, but twice – and exposing himself to the possibility of becoming trapped within the burning structure. Despite the subsequent death of Mr. Krieger, Deputy Serraes’ actions saved the life of Ruth Krieger and preserved the life of Byron Krieger long enough to allow the married couple of 57 years the opportunity to say goodbye. Deputy Serraes’ actions clearly are worth of nomination for Deputy Sheriff of the Year for the South Palm Beach County 100 Club.

Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services

Firefighter of the Year – 2015 Firefighter Paula Ursini

Firefighter Paula Ursini was on her way to work on December 1, 2015, when she witnessed a car veer off the Turnpike and go into a canal.  Paula immediately stopped her car, jumped into the canal and swam out to the car, which was sinking, and found a female victim trapped with her leg caught under the seat. The water was deep and Paula was unable to stand.  Paula helped the victim get her foot loose from the area of entrapment and assisted her out of the sinking car. The victim was unable to swim and was frantic.   Paula was able to calm her down and swim her back to shore.  As they made it back to shore, the car fully submerged.

These are the facts. But what was also made clear was her sense of empathy, courage, professionalism, and quick thinking. In these situations, the usual protocol is to wait for backup. Paula’s assessment of the situation told her there was no time to waste – to wait meant that this person would probably die. In that moment, all of Paula’s experience, training, and instincts came to her aid and she made a decision. Paula acted quickly and with compassion and, in a selfless act of courage, she saved a life. There can be no greater gift than the willingness to make what could be the ultimate sacrifice to save another.

Paula’s heroic actions exemplify everything it means to be a Firefighter in our City. It means going beyond professional training, combining it with life experience, and acting with compassion and honor when faced with difficult and, sometimes, impossible situations.

Congratulations to Firefighter Paula Ursini on being chosen as our 2015 Firefighter of the Year.