Several deputies recognized for life-saving efforts, and Fugitive Apprehension Unit honored
During a June 23 ceremony, Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards to members of the agency in recognition of actions they had taken, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
“Deputies Matthew Hadnot and Luke Edwards received the Life Saving Award for their quick action” involving a 27-year-old woman, a news release notes.
On Feb. 28, the release explains, “Hadnot and Edwards were the first to arrive on scene” following a 911 report of a woman in cardiac arrest. Edwards began chest compressions as Hadnot administered rescue breaths, the release continues. “After five minutes of CPR, rescue personnel arrived and assumed care, transporting the patient to Doctor’s Hospital. The nursing staff advised that the early CPR significantly improved [the woman’s] chances for survival,” the release points out.
Next, Deputy Daniel Traylor received the Life Saving Award after responding to a call on Feb. 4 of an unresponsive woman in a parking lot, the release says.
“When Traylor arrived on scene, he found a woman lying on the pavement, blue in the face,” the release says. “He conducted a quick assessment of the woman and observed that she was not breathing and did not have a pulse,” the release adds. “Traylor immediately began CPR and continued until rescue units arrived. He then continued to assist the Sarasota County Fire Department personnel for an additional four minutes before the woman was transported to the hospital. Because of his immediate and on-going actions, Deputy Traylor played a significant role in her survival,” the release points out.
Further, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit (FAU) — consisting of Sgt. Brian Bercaw; Deputies Christopher Altekruse, Matthew McAleer, Randin Miller and Shane Shoemaker; Deputy Recruit Blanca Montoya; and Warrants Technicians Michelle Hauke-Amburgy, Karen McGuire and Carol Pagan “received a Unit Citation Award for exceeding expectations in their performance of highly sensitive and high-liability operations during 2025,” the release continues. “This effort was achieved in spite of the fact that every sworn member and one warrants technician had been replaced within the previous two years,” it notes.
“The FAU requires daily coordination with all three divisions of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office,” as well as outside law enforcement partners nationwide; the Sarasota County Clerk of the Court; and booking, teletype and transport companies, the release explains. “The unit manages the verification, entry and removal of every warrant in Sarasota County and is responsible for locating and apprehending the most dangerous and evasive offenders,” it adds.
“The Warrants Office received 7,056 warrants for entry in 2025,” the release says. “The technicians verified each document before entry into the system and were able to clear 5,552 warrants following arrests,” and it processed 996 recalls from the court, the release notes.
“Throughout the year, the Fugitive Apprehension Unit showed great proficiency and dedication, resulting in 645 arrests,” many of which involved “career criminals and violent offenders who were actively evading capture,” the release points out.