Chris Connell served as director of the Capitol Police and was a 28-year veteran of the Tallahassee Police Department. He passed suddenly in October 2019 at the age of 59. Director Connell served on the original steering committee for the Heroes in Public Safety (HIPS) program and was passionate about ensuring that rank-and-file public safety personnel was honored as a part of the program. In honor of his commitment to the public safety sector, our community, and the HIPS program, these awards have been named in his honor.
The awards are given in three categories:
- Unsung Hero Award recognizes those who have made exemplary accomplishments in the past year
- Incident Awards honor those who have demonstrated an act of outstanding bravery in the line of duty
- Young Professional Award highlights those who have shown a level of commitment, service, and professionalism often unseen in someone so new to the field
Past Honorees
2024
Incident Award Honorees
- Caleb Babb, Tallahassee Police Department
- Jeffrey Brady, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Randall Brooks, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Kelsey Dalton, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- William DeMars, Tallahassee Police Department
- Loren Drew, Tallahassee Police Department
- Brandon Eastman, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Matthew Hannon, Florida Highway Patrol
- Raymond Hatchman, Leon County EMS
- Hayley Hengstebeck, Leon County EMS
- Luke Krupinski, Florida Highway Patrol
- Caleb McLeod, Leon County EMS
- Chase Miley, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Adam Mospens, Leon County EMS
- Steven Turner, Florida Highway Patrol
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- Dennis Bogusky, Florida Highway Patrol
- David Brunner, Florida Highway Patrol
- Felecia T.J Fowler, Department of Juvenile Justice
- Christine Gracey, Florida Highway Patrol
- Amber Lawson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Courtney Clanton, Florida Department of Corrections
- Migdalisis Garcia, Florida Highway Patrol
- Mychara Johnson, Florida Department of Corrections
- Daniel Salazar, Florida Department of Corrections
- Alessandra Shepherd, Consolidated Dispatch Agency
2023
Incident Award Honorees
- Matthew “Kale” Davis, Florida Highway Patrol
- Jacob Moore, Florida Highway Patrol
- Autumn Moore, Tallahassee Police Department
- Toni Schuck, Florida Highway Patrol
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- Andrea Blalock, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
- Amelia Hardwick, Florida Department of Corrections
- Suzanne Joyner, Florida Department of Correction
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Christian Foster, Leon County Emergency Management Services
- Amanda Hall, Florida Department of Corrections
- Elizabeth Lenair, Florida Department of Corrections
2022
Incident Award Honorees
- Scott Ault, Tallahassee Police Department
- Ricky Binet, Florida Highway Patrol
- Ryan Dunphy, Tallahassee Police Department
- Alexander Lara, Florida Highway Patrol
- Ashley Reagle, Florida Highway Patrol
- Horlkins Saget, Florida Highway Patrol
- Megan Stiles, Florida Highway Patrol
Unsung Hero Award Honorees
- April Bishop, Tallahassee Police Department
- Steve Britt, Tallahassee Police Department
- Princilla Brown-Jefferson, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
- Bill Collins, Leon County Sheriff's Office
- Darbie Gibson, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Anthony Gioannetti, Florida State University Police Department
- Kevin Kleis, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Jessica Pfohl, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Brianne Shaut, Tallahassee Police Department
- Marcin Trawinksi, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Young Professional Award Honorees
- Lance Butler, Tallahassee Fire Department
- Carlos Castillo, Florida Highway Patrol
- Cody Hatt, Florida Highway Patrol
- Tiffany Maxwell-Melgarejo, Panama City Beach Probations
2021
2020