Clearwater Public Safety Employees Receive Multiple Honors

CLEARWATER, FL — A Clearwater Fire & Rescue fire medic and a Clearwater Police corporal were honored by the Rotary Club of Clearwater June 15.

Fire Medic Kenny Sweitzer Jr. won the 2021 Public Safety and Service Award as a representative of the fire department, while Cpl. Melody Phelps won the same award as a representative of the police department.

Sweitzer was recognized for his efforts to increase awareness of autism earlier this year. He designed and sold T-shirts that many fire department employees wore that focused on autism awareness.

The proceeds were donated to a local school that serves autistic students.

Phelps was honored for her efforts to help a family that was in need. She organized an effort that collected money, clothing and food for the family. The Rotary awards have been given annually since 2007.

On June 21, the Clearwater Police Department honored its volunteers for all of their hard work in making agency better. Here is a list of those who were recognized with special awards:

Father Ted Costello -- volunteer of the year
John Pergantis and Yvette Sussman -- lifetime achievement award with more than 5,000 hours volunteered
Phillip Repp -- gold presidential award
John Pergantis, Norma Fitzpatrick and Yvette Sussman -- silver presidential award
Zonna Crayne, Michael Eldridge, James Hill, Sid Kaye, Michaelene Lourenco, Joel Sussman and Rex Whittenberger -- bronze presidential award
Tim Burke, James Gibson, Natalia Khalifa, Joy McIver and Father Ted Costello -- five-year service award.
City Manager Bill Horne -- appreciation plaque

Also on June 21, Clearwater Police Chief Dan Slaughter welcomed the department's two newest recruits who graduated from the academy at St. Petersburg College -- Anthony Curcio and Zachary Zarra.

Additionally, Officer Brian Hoxie was recently named the 2021 Clearwater Civitan Club Officer of the Year for his contributions to the community on and off the job. The award will be presented later this month.