For Immediate Release
April 22, 2013
TALLAHASSEE – FDLE members from throughout Florida were honored in Tallahassee for their outstanding performances during 2012.
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, along with Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Gerald Bailey, congratulated the award winners for key accomplishments, money saving ideas and productivity. Recipients were chosen from more than 200 nominations.
“While each winner is unique, they all share one thing in common, they are a ‘go-to,’” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “These winners are the ones we go-to when we need results.”
Award winners are as follows:
Commissioner’s Award Winners – Maggie Kleindienst, Pensacola Regional Operations Center crime intelligence analyst and Mark Raley, Jacksonville Regional Operations Center government analyst.
Analyst Kleindienst’s work investigating an interstate stolen property organization earned her praise from federal law enforcement officers including the U. S. Attorney’s Office.
Analyst Raley is an expert in financial investigations. His work in major fraud and narcotics investigations led to several arrests this past year. He also introduced a more efficient way of conducting financial analysis and trained his colleagues on the process.
Special Agent of the Year – Billy Powell, Orlando Regional Operations Center special agent.
Special Agent Powell led the fight against pharmaceutical drugs throughout Central Florida by conducing long term and complex investigations that dismantled several drug trafficking organizations.
Forensic Scientist of the Year – Jennifer Hatler, Pensacola Regional Operations Center crime lab analyst.
Crime Lab Analyst Hatler is a top producer in Pensacola’s Biology Laboratory and consistently takes on extra work. Analyst Hatler successfully got a DNA hit on a cold case homicide. Because of her determination, a suspect was charged with a 1997 homicide.
Capitol Police Office of the Year – Cherry Martina, Florida Capitol Police officer.
Officer Martina stepped forward taking command of her squad following the tragic death of an off-duty capitol police officer leading her squad during a difficult time.
Distinguished Member of the Year – J.D. Ross, FDLE Tallahassee systems programming consultant.
Programming Consultant Ross worked in a leadership capacity on several high profile projects including computerized criminal history, and automated fingerprint identification system upgrades.
Distinguished Support Member of the Year – Lisa Hopkins, FDLE Tallahassee planning consultant.
Planning Consultant Hopkins helped establish a project management office in the Information Resource Management division of FDLE. She also proposed and helped design FDLE’s internal Share Site.
Excellence in Leadership – Roy Gunnarsson, FDLE Tallahassee, training and research manager.
Manager Gunnarsson led several successful projects in 2012 including a computer-based testing procurement, a law enforcement job task analysis, a correctional probation job task analysis, a post basic training needs assessment and a physical fitness research project.
Distinguished Team of the Year – New Criminal Record Check Process for Applicants Team:
J.D. Ross
Luke Lawrence
Rob Williams
Steven Anderson
Cody Menacof
Christopher Johnson
Cheri Phillips
Jean Itzin
Michael Raymond
Larry McNear
The New Criminal Record Check Process for Applicants Team implemented a new criminal record history check to provide customers with improved functionality, efficiency and reliability in processing applicant background checks. FDLE processes over 1 million fingerprint-based applicant background checks for businesses and state and local agencies each year.
Innovation of the Year – Firearms Eligibility System Team:
Frank Mabry
Trinda Peoples
Daniel Herring
Steve Garrison
Mihir Chhaya
Pavan Gajjela
Kevan Bussey
Angele Owens
Janet Jiang
Grant Jacobs
John Booth
The Firearms Eligibility System Team implemented a new system allowing Florida gun dealers the ability to submit information on-line for persons purchasing a gun. The new system automated a manual process, significantly reducing the wait time for the customer and gun dealer.
Contribution to Criminal Justice – Computerized Criminal History Update Project Team:
Renee Strickland
Poey Nee Koh
Veronica Chandler
The Computerized Criminal History Update Team worked with 67 Clerks of Court to update Florida’s Computerized Criminal History System, adding historic information.
Contribution to Criminal Justice – Toxicology Instrument Installation Team:
Dan Richardson
Dennis Siewert
The Toxicology Instrument Installation Team was developed a new technique that will allow the toxicology lab discipline to conduct quantitative drug testing. Previously this process had to be completed by a private vendor.
In addition, FDLE Assistant Commissioner Mark Zadra and Government Analyst Richard Lawrence were recognized for 35 and 40 years of service, respectively. Also, former Assistant Commissioner Ken Tucker received the Commissioner’s Medal.
For Further Information Contact:
Gretl Plessinger or Steve Arthur
FDLE Office of Public Information
(850) 410-7001