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
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
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