Merit Award Winner

The Award for Merit is presented to a campus officer who each day displays professionalism and excellence in performing his/her duties or whose actions and attitude bring credit to the campus law enforcement community.

2022 Merit Award Recipient
Sergeant Frank Imparato, University of Central Florida Police Department

This year’s Award for Merit was presented to Sergeant Frank Imparato of the University of Central Florida Police Department.

On July 14, 2021, then Corporal Imparato responded to the top floor of a parking garage on the UCF Campus in reference to a suicidal person threatening to jump. The distraught 19-year-old, college sophomore female told dispatch that she had a “tough year,” was suffering from an unidentified mental illness, and previously had been taken into protective custody through a Baker Act.

Sergeant Imparato found the woman in a seated position against the ledge of the garage and established immediate rapport to de-escalate the situation. By talking to her about the Harry Potter characters on her shirt, she connected with Sergeant Imparato by telling him her name, where she was from, and why she was in crisis and experiencing suicidal ideations.

Through continued communication and compassionate de-escalation strategies, Sergeant Imparato was able to lead her away from the ledge of the garage and join him in his police car.

Sergeant Imparato’s informed and compassionate response to a person in crisis undoubtedly saved that student’s life and enabled her to receive needed medical treatment.

Past Recipients

2021 - Dispatch Supervisor Michelle Garza, University of Texas Arlington Police Department

2020 - Communications & Emergency Services Operator, Biola University, Campus Safety Department

2019 - Investigations & Clery Compliance Manager, Veronica Baeza, Biola University, Department of Public Safety

2018 - Chief Dale G. Brophy, University of Utah 

2017 - Lieutenant Thomas Calucci, University of Texas-San Antonio 

2016 - Sgt. Jose Alvarez, Officer Mark Mugica, & Sgt. Archibald Mendoza, Biola University

2015 - Sergeant Kevin Gray, The University of Texas Police at Houston

2014 - Officer Jonathan Logan, Alamo Colleges Police Department

2013 - Officers Jennifer Ockerman and Emily Smith, University of Kentucky

2012 - Captain John Adams, University of California Los Angeles

2011 - Officers David Coakley and Adam Koehler of the New York State University at Cortland Police Department

2010 - Officer Matthew Mastrosimone of College of New Jersey Police Department

2009 - Detectives Thomas Bacigalupi and Patricia Millan, George Mason University

2008 - Officer Ronald Guichon, University of Illinois at Chicago

2007 - Officer Yvonne Meyer, Parkland College

2006 - Sergeant Robert J. Vaccaro, North Shore Community College District

2005 -Officer Douglas Boortz, Florida State University

2004 - Officer Richard G. Dohme, University of Nevada – Las Vegas

2003 - Sergeant John Ojeisekhoba, Biola University

2002 - Mr. Brendell Klaasen - University of Stellenbosch

2001 - Sergeant Allison Valles - University of Texas at El Paso

2000 - Sergeant E. Steven Milne of the Utah State University Police Department

1999 - Sergeant Troy Williamson, University of Central Florida Police Department.

Photo Credit: © Mike Ritter