The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office held its 2026 First Quarter Awards Ceremony on April 30, recognizing employees and volunteers for life-saving acts, major investigations, and years of dedicated service.
Sheriff Rick Staly presided over the 2026 First Quarter Awards Ceremony at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center on April 30, handing out Life-Saving Awards, Unit Citations, Certificates of Commendation, Employee of the Month recognitions, and service milestone awards to employees and volunteers across the agency.
“The employees and volunteers at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office go above and beyond in their efforts to keep our community safe, regardless of whether they’re on or off duty. It’s my honor to be able to recognize the job these outstanding men and women are doing.”
— Sheriff Rick Staly, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
Life-Saving Awards
DEPUTY ASHLEY JACQUES
On December 13, 2025, Deputy Jacques responded to a medical call where a woman was unresponsive, without a pulse, and not breathing. He immediately began CPR. His intervention restored the woman’s pulse and she was transported to AdventHealth Palm Coast for further care. The award recognized his decisive and skilled response in a time-critical situation.
DEPUTY JOSEPH OLIVA
While off duty at a restaurant in Ormond Beach, Deputy Oliva recognized that a fellow patron — former Ormond Beach city commissioner Susan Persis — was choking. He immediately performed the Heimlich maneuver, successfully dislodging the obstruction and saving her life. At the ceremony, Sheriff Staly also presented two LifeVac Airway Clearance devices to the restaurant. The sheriff’s office noted that every food-serving business in Flagler County — including restaurants, bars, coffee shops, hotels, and golf clubs — was provided with similar devices in 2025, paid for using drug-seized assets at no cost to taxpayers.
CORPORAL JOSEPH BARNETT
On February 17, 2026, Corporal Barnett responded to an overdose call and found the man unresponsive with blue lips. Barnett administered a dose of Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. The man regained consciousness and made a full recovery.
MARK DYBERG — SENIORS VS. CRIME VOLUNTEER
In March 2026, while vacationing in Puerto Rico, Dyberg spotted a young woman in distress in the water at Condado Beach. He entered the ocean and swam approximately 150 yards through five-to-six-foot swells, carrying life rings. He reached the victim, secured her, and brought her safely back to shore. The incident occurred entirely off-duty and outside of his jurisdiction, demonstrating what the agency described as exceptional bravery and selfless action.
Sheriff’s Citation Award
DEPUTY PAIGE BLAKE
On December 29, 2025, while driving home after her shift, Deputy Blake spotted a Volusia County Sheriff’s Office vehicle on the side of U.S. Highway 1 in Ormond Beach with its lights on but no backup present. She found the deputy alone in the nearby woods struggling to arrest a subject who was actively resisting and throwing punches. Blake stepped in and helped secure the suspect without further use of force. A search of the suspect revealed he had been reaching for a concealed firearm. He was later charged with 22 counts of armed burglary of a vehicle, four counts of grand theft of a firearm, and seven counts of petit theft.
Unit Citations
KIDNAPPING INVESTIGATION — DECEMBER 31, 2025
A Unit Citation was awarded to a large team of investigators, crime scene specialists, and support personnel for their work on a kidnapping case involving an 11-year-old victim. On December 31, 2025, deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity involving a white Ford F-250 with children inside. During a traffic stop, one occupant — later identified as a sexual offender — fled on foot and was detained. A second suspect fled in the vehicle, nearly striking deputies before colliding with a patrol unit and causing minor injuries. The Major Case Unit, Criminal Intelligence Unit, Real Time Crime Center, Crime Scene Investigations, and communications staff worked alongside the St. Johns County and Putnam County Sheriff’s Offices. Extensive searches, digital evidence collection, and interviews resulted in multiple serious felony charges, including kidnapping.
Team members honored: Detective Sergeant George Hristakopoulos; Detective Corporals Bryan Denker, Seth Green, and Mark Moy; Master Detectives Kathryn Gordon and Adam Gossett; Detective First Class Stacy Kusek; Detectives Lauren Broomfield, Joe Costello, Hayleigh Prentiss, Shannon Smith, and Kyle Somers; Deputy Derek Logsdon; Crime Scene Investigations and Evidence Supervisor Savannah MacLellan; Crime Scene Investigators Caitlin Butler and Mirey Centeno-Negron; Real Time Crime Center Specialist Taylor Cousin; and Victim Advocate Rosario Alston.
MULTI-COUNTY COMMERCIAL BURGLARY SERIES — FEBRUARY 2026
A second Unit Citation recognized the team behind a burglary investigation that began with two commercial break-ins reported in Flagler County on February 9, 2026, followed by a third the next day. After targeted operations and assistance from the Real Time Crime Center, detectives linked a single suspect to a total of 12 commercial burglaries spanning Flagler, Volusia, and Duval counties. The suspect was arrested by the New Smyrna Beach Police Department and the FCSO obtained additional arrest warrants ensuring the suspect remained incarcerated. The suspect’s vehicle was also seized for forfeiture.
Team members honored: Detective Sergeants Gabe Fuentes, Frank Gamarra, and Daniel Weaver; Detective Corporals Adam Barkoskie, Bryan Denker, Seth Green, Mark Moy, and Christopher Santoianni; Master Detectives Kyle Gaddie, Daniel Malta, and Omar Ocampo; Detective First Class Thomas Douglas; Detectives Maxwell Dorsey, Robert Harrington, Dennis King, Troy Magnuson, and Mark Rexford; Crime Scene Investigations and Evidence Supervisor Savannah MacLellan; Crime Scene Investigators Caitlin Butler, Mirey Centeno-Negron, and Gabriella Massa; and Real Time Crime Center Specialists Victoria Hanlin and Amber Morrow.
22-YEAR COLD CASE — BREAKTHROUGH IN 2026
A third Unit Citation honored the team behind a significant breakthrough in a case that dates back to August 2003, when a Palm Coast resident left home after a family argument and was never seen again. Sergeant Jon Reckenwald had originally filed the missing person report and entered the case into state and national law enforcement databases. In 2021, the case gained renewed media attention. In February 2024, volunteer dive teams searched area waterways. In October 2025, Detective Sarah Scalia received a tip that a vehicle had been found submerged in the Intracoastal Waterway near 18th Road. The vehicle’s bumper appeared consistent with a 1996 Plymouth Neon — the same type the missing person drove — and showed traces of red paint. Between February 2 and 5, 2026, a coordinated multi-agency underwater recovery operation retrieved several items of evidentiary value, providing the family with long-awaited answers after more than two decades.
Team members honored: Commander Jon Dopp; Detective Sergeant George Hristakopoulos; Sergeant Jon Reckenwald; Detective Corporal Michael Breckwoldt; Corporal Andrew Cangialosi; Master Detective Kathryn Gordon; Master Deputy Jeffrey Turner; Detective First Class Philip Kotowski; Detectives Ardit Coma, Necole Marsan, Hayleigh Prentiss, Sarah Scalia, and Kyle Somers; Deputies Jeremy Chambers, Jason Prather, and Robin Towns; Crime Scene Investigations and Evidence Supervisor Savannah MacLellan; Crime Scene Investigators Caitlin Butler, Mirey Centeno-Negron, and Gabriella Massa; and Citizen Observer Patrol volunteer Cameron Orr.
Certificates of Commendation
CORPORAL CRAIG ROSSI
Corporal Rossi was recognized for his work investigating a sex offense involving lewd acts committed in the presence of a 14-year-old victim. Using surveillance footage and investigative databases, he identified the suspect vehicle and obtained an updated photo for a lineup, leading to the suspect’s identification and swift resolution of the case.
DETECTIVE HAYLEIGH PRENTISS
Detective Prentiss received a commendation for her work on two separate cases. On December 15, 2025, she investigated a reported child sex offense, establishing probable cause for sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation, leading to an arrest the following week. On February 14, 2026, she responded to a domestic violence incident in Daytona North, identified signs of ongoing abuse, secured the victim, and uncovered prior incidents supporting felony charges including battery and strangulation. The suspect was arrested on February 19.
CIVIL CLERK SUZANNE GARDY
Following a burglary at the Golden Chopsticks Buffet in Palm Coast, one suspect remained at large after another suspect indicated she had died. During a routine annual warrant audit, Gardy identified a possible current address for the suspect in Cook County, Illinois. A teletype was sent to Cook County authorities on January 28. Illinois law enforcement located the individual, took her into custody, and she was subsequently returned to Flagler County to face the outstanding charges.
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR GABRIELLA MASSA
CSI Massa was recognized for organizing a five-day Basic Crime Scene Photography course in partnership with Tritech Forensics, hosted in March at the FCSO Operations Center. The training was attended by 19 crime scene investigators and law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies. Massa coordinated the entire effort — logistics, communication, and course execution — while continuing to manage her regular caseload.
Employees of the Month
Three employees were named Employee of the Month for the first quarter of 2026. Detective Hayleigh Prentiss was honored for January, Civil Clerk Suzanne Gardy for February, and Crime Scene Investigator Gabriella Massa for March.
Years of service milestones
Eighteen employees were recognized for reaching service milestones. Reaching five years were Detective Dennis King and Detention Deputy Bobby Peters. Reaching ten years were Master Deputies Justine Crego, Marcus Dawson, and Brad Stogdon, and Detective Sarah Scalia. Reaching fifteen years were Commander Robert Tarczewski, Detention Commander Brian Sheridan, Detective Sergeant Gabe Fuentes, and Deputy John-Jack Castanheira. Reaching twenty years were Sergeants Paul Kandour and Michael Miller, Corporal Artur Erlandson, Deputy Ralph Lilavois, and Classification Specialist Edward Justice. Reaching twenty-five years were Master Deputy Greg Nunziato and Deputies Samuel Cooper Jr. and John Landi.
The post Choking Rescue at a Restaurant, a Drowning Save in Puerto Rico, and a 22-Year Cold Case Breakthrough: FCSO Honors Its Best at First Quarter Awards first appeared on Flagler County Buzz.
