Pasco Deputies Recognized For Outstanding Work

Two deputies involved in high-profile news stories received awards from Pasco Sheriff Bob White Wednesday during the agency’s quarterly awards and swearing-in ceremony held at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Shady Hills.

Deputy Kelly Endricks, who in February rescued a man from his burning car, was presented with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Meritorious Service Medal for Courage and the agency’s Lifesaving Award.

On Feb. 12, Endricks got a call about a man trapped in a burning vehicle, and he raced the mile to the crash site near Scenic and Fox Hollow Drives in New Port Richey. The car had overturned and  there were live wires down around the car. Smoke filled the inside of the vehicle, making it impossible to see inside. Endricks used his steel baton to break out the back window. The driver was still inside behind the steering wheel.

Endricks knew he couldn’t easily get the man out of the car so he smashed  the sun roof and pulled him out to safety only seconds before the vehicle burst into flames.

Driver Edward Whalen only suffered minor injuries.

Five days after this, another incident made local headlines and newscasts. On Feb. 17, when Deputy Paul Downey was patrolling U.S. 19 near Main Street, he spotted two New Port Richey Police officers making a traffic stop.

The car was first noticed by police officers as it pulled out of a know drug area and was pulled over for faulty equipment. Three of the four people inside the vehicle stepped out of the car when ordered by police, but a fourth refused. While police surrounded the car, Downey positioned himself on the driver’s side of the car as officers continued to order the man out of it.

All of a sudden, Downey saw the man pull out a gun.

“He’s got a gun,” Downey warned the officers.

That man, Jason Arnold Wilson, 29, fired one shot through the window toward Sgt. Erik Jay, narrowly missing him.

Downey and Officer Anthony Pedrero returned fire, striking Wilson several times and killing him.

“For his attention to detail in a suspicious traffic stop and his exceptional bravery when the incident turned violent and that he had to use deadly force that may have saved a fellow officer’s life,” according to Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Kevin Doll, Downey was given the Medal of Valor.

Several other awards were given out to during the ceremony. Wesley Chapel resident Frank White was given the agency’s Citizen’s Service Award for helping deputies in a case where his neighbor’s home was burglarized.

Jim Dodrill, the sheriff’s office director of forfeiture, received the Employee Incentive Award for a Civilian Position for his dedication in pursuing civil actions and out-of-courts settlements in seized property cases. Deputy Michael Sentner, who has been a detention deputy since 2005, was presented with the Employee Incentive Award for Detention, for his leadership and dedication at the jail. Deputy Jessica Haskins received the Employee Incentive Award for Law Enforcement for professionalism shown in a multitude of cases, including in a burglary case and a missing persons case.

Cpl. Tim Spitzer, the Safety Town coordinator, received the Meritorious Service Medal for Accomplishment for his commitment to youth safety instruction. Detective Justin Ross received the same award for his dedication in preventing economic crimes and his arrests of suspects in those types of crimes.

Sgt. Ben Barrington and Cpl. Clark Reese accepted Lifesaving Awards in a case of a suicidal woman. And finally, Sgt. James Browning and Deputy Thomas Stubblefield were presented with Meritorious Service Medals for Courage in a case where a man attempted suicide.