- February 13, 2025
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The third annual Ormond Beach Police Dept. Awards Ceremony on May 18 recognized life saving actions and successful investigations for 2015.
While police work was the focus of the evening at the Greg Smith Field House in the Sports Complex, actions that prevent crime were also recognized. Officer Gregory Stokes received the Meritorious Community Service Award for his work with the Outreach Unit.
“As a (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instructor he has touched the lives of hundreds of local school fifth graders in a positive way,” the award stated.
Stokes taught bank robbery prevention and anti-bullying; coordinated several National Night Out events and the Citizens Police Academies; and volunteered with the Police Athletic League as a basketball coach and youth mentor.
The community efforts of Officer John Dovine and Jay Brennan were also honored with a Meritorious Community Service Award.
“For the better part of the past year, these two officers have come together to make a formidable team for the betterment of the Ormond Beach Community,” their award stated. “They have brought innovation, passion and creativity to the Outreach Unit.”
Dovine and Brennan reached senior citizens with the Badges and Brunches program; children’s groups with Buddy Cop, Soda Pop with a Cop, Santa on Patrol and the Children’s Academy; and women through Mommy, Me and Safety, and a self-defense course. They also raised money for animal shelters and adoptions.
The Chief’s Commendation went to Officer Thomas Garcia who cleared up several crimes in surrounding cities when he solved a burglary at an Ormond Beach pharmacy using a partial license plate and the surveillance tape.
Officer Royce James encountered a suicidal suspect locked in a bathroom. James forced his way into the room and prevented the subject, who was holding a knife to his throat, from harming himself.
Officer Kenneth Long rescued a subject attempting to hang himself; and Officer David Labrie was investigating a suspicious car when an occupant slit his wrist. Labrie applied pressure to the wound until medical personnel arrived.
Several unit commendations were given for investigations. An example occurred on Dec. 27, 2015, when officers were dispatched to a double stabbing. Responding patrol officers forced entry into the home, where two victims had been stabbed multiple times.
Detectives and evidence technicians collected evidence, conducted interviews and gathered intelligence over the course of several days and nights. The investigation was unique and extensive, because it was a random crime, and the suspect was unknown to the victims.
Detective Danielle Reagan received a meritorious service award for her actions, which included having a composite sketch made of the suspect and eventually getting a full confession.
