UCF Public Safety honored standout officers, professional staff members, and community partners during its annual awards ceremony, hosted by News 6 Traffic Expert “Trooper Steve” Montiero. The event celebrated recipients of the department’s Lifesaving Awards and its annual “Of the Year” honors, while Chief Robin Griffin‑Kitzerow presented the prestigious Chief’s Award to two deserving recipients.
The ceremony also recognized achievements in professional development, academic milestones, physical abilities, commendations and community partnership efforts — highlighting accomplishments across every division of Public Safety.
Award recipients were nominated and voted on by their peers, with final selections reviewed by a designated awards committee, ensuring a process rooted in fairness, transparency and the values of the department.
2025 Chief’s, Of the Year and Lifesaving Award Winners
Chief’s Award: Scott Freeman ’11
With more than two decades of service to UCF, Deputy Chief Scott Freeman ’11 is widely regarded as the embodiment of loyalty, reliability and hard work. He began his career with the UCF Police Department as a civilian community service officer and steadily worked his way up — earning sponsorship to attend the police academy, progressing through the ranks and ultimately becoming deputy chief. His rise reflects an unmatched work ethic and a deep commitment to serving the university community.
As his responsibilities grew, so did his professional accomplishments. Freeman went on to graduate from the prestigious FBI National Academy, becoming — at the time — only the second UCFPD member ever selected for the program, an honor reserved for roughly 1% of law enforcement professionals nationwide.
Though he rarely seeks the spotlight, Freeman is known across campus for being available at any hour and for consistently putting others first. His humor and quick wit bring levity to public safety operations, and his passion, compassion, and dedication continue to make the department a stronger and more supportive place to work.
Chief’s Award: UCFPD’s Emergency Response Team
The second Chief’s Award recognizes a unit whose exceptional coordination, discipline and professionalism have set a new standard for campus safety. In 2025, UCFPD’s Emergency Response Team was called into action 24 times — often with little warning — to manage complex multi‑agency operations across UCF and Central Florida.
Despite the size and unpredictability of these events, the team delivered extraordinary results: not a single major incident, no arrests and no use of force. Their success was no accident. It was the product of rigorous training, meticulous planning and seamless communication, all anchored in a steadfast commitment to safety and de‑escalation.
Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year: Allison Sienkiewicz ’17
Supporting the mental health and well‑being of students is one of UCFPD’s highest priorities, and Officer Allison Sienkiewicz ’17 exemplified that commitment throughout 2025. During one crisis response, she helped a student who had engaged in self‑harm by creating a calm, supportive environment, and guiding both the student and their parent through the Baker Act process with empathy and clarity. In another call, she assisted a student experiencing suicidal ideations, taking the time to build trust, validate fears, and ensure the student felt safe and heard. Because of Sienkiewicz’s steady presence, compassion, and exceptional crisis intervention skills, both students received the critical, life‑saving support they needed.
Dispatcher of the Year: Nattia Lawrence ’24
Dispatchers play a crucial role in every incident, serving as the steady voice callers rely on in their most stressful moments. Nattia Lawrence ’24 embodies that responsibility each day through her friendly, approachable demeanor and her willingness to assist at any moment. She has taken clear initiative to expand her knowledge and impact within the department — participating in the mentorship program, joining the Public Safety Events Committee and pursuing her master’s degree while working full time. Her positive attitude, responsiveness, and reliability make her someone both colleagues and the community depend on, earning her this well‑deserved recognition.
DUI Officer of the Year: Adriel Rivera Aponte and Isabella Sanchez
DUI enforcement plays a vital role in keeping our roads safe, and even a single impaired‑driving arrest has the potential to prevent a tragedy. This year, Adriel Rivera Aponte and Isabella Sanchez share this recognition, each recording four DUI arrests. While the numbers may be smaller due to UCFPD’s limited jurisdiction, their work demonstrates strong initiative in this critical area and the department’s frequent participation in countywide operations led by partner agencies. Their efforts underscore the continued importance of DUI enforcement and set a positive example for proactive policing across the department.
Field Training Officer of the Year: Jonathan Mattingly
UCFPD sets high expectations for new officers, offering a comprehensive training program that includes six weeks of classroom instruction followed by three months of paired, on‑the‑road training. In 2025, Officer Jonathan Mattingly trained two new officers through all three phases of the program, drawing on both his UCF experience and prior agency knowledge to support their growth. His trainees and his peers consistently praised his approach, noting his ability to adapt training techniques to each officer’s individual needs. His patience, insight and strong leadership mindset set a high standard for those entering the profession, making him a well‑deserved choice for Field Training Officer of the Year.
Officer of the Year: Jeffrey Hopkins ’22
Corporal Jeffrey Hopkins ’22 is being recognized for his exceptional leadership, professionalism and commitment to mentoring the next generation of officers. Known as one of the most proactive and knowledgeable members of the agency, he approaches every situation with confidence, patience and genuine care. As a field training officer, he guided multiple new hires through their early months on the job, taking the time to explain complex situations, build their confidence and model the highest standards of policing. His colleagues consistently praise his ability to make others feel supported and welcomed, strengthening teamwork and fostering a healthy, positive culture across the department. His strong decision‑making, steady demeanor and dedication to excellence have left a lasting impact on his squad and the agency, contributing to his well‑earned promotion in 2025.
Partner of the Year: Millicent Downer
Though much of her work happens behind the scenes, the entire employee lifecycle —especially for UCFPD’s sworn officers — relies on Downer’s leadership, expertise and attention to detail. She oversees all human resources functions for Public Safety and, together with her team, supports the broader Administration and Finance Division. From recruitment, hiring, and onboarding to retention, professional development, and offboarding, she guides every step with clarity, professionalism, and steady poise. Her commitment to excellence and her advocacy for employees make her an invaluable partner to the department.
Professional Staff Member of the Year: Jennifer Floyd
Stepping into an expanded role this year, Jennifer Floyd quickly established herself as a driving force behind several major security initiatives at UCF. She played a central role in advancing key projects, including the commissioning of the new College of Nursing building and the campus‑wide upgrade of more than 500 security cameras — an effort that significantly strengthened the university’s safety infrastructure. Amid significant staffing transitions, Floyd helped maintain steady operations while coordinating hundreds of maintenance requests and pursuing advanced professional training to support the department’s evolving needs. She also led nearly 50 training sessions for teams across the university, ensuring that critical security systems remained reliable and well‑managed.
Professional Staff Supervisor of the Year: Benita Harrison ’25MPA
Benita Harrison ’25MPA supports the chief of police in daily operations, helped guide the department through organizational changes in 2025 and is a trusted source of knowledge on university processes. She chairs multiple committees with fairness and precision, oversees department events with outstanding organization, and consistently creates positive experiences for staff and partners. She also mentors her work‑study student and provided significant support to the Central Florida Criminal Justice Association’s executive board last year. Dependable and dedicated, Harrison exemplifies excellence in supervision.
Rookie of the Year: Kamila Otero ’24
Officer Kamila Otero ’24’s journey with the department began as an intern, later becoming UCFPD’s first police cadet — a role that helped establish a pathway now used to develop future officers. After graduating from the academy at the top of her class academically, she transitioned seamlessly into patrol and quickly proved herself dependable, capable, and deeply committed to serving the campus community. In just one year, she has handled a wide range of calls with confidence and compassion, actively seeks feedback, supports her squad, and represents the department with enthusiasm through outreach and engagement. Her positive attitude, initiative and early impact truly set her apart.
Senior Leader of the Year: Laura Valle ’17MA
Laura Valle ’17MA consistently stepped beyond her responsibilities to support her team—taking on extensive on‑call duties to prevent burnout and ensure uninterrupted crisis‑response services for the campus community. Her expertise reached national and statewide levels through her authorship in a crisis‑response manual and her training of new crisis responders. She also secured major grant funding to expand the threat management team, led extensive campus outreach and successfully rebuilt and staffed her unit during a challenging period. Through it all, she led with integrity, compassion and a steady presence that earned the trust of colleagues and partners across UCF.
Sworn Supervisor of the Year: Danielle Adams ’13 ’20MS
Danielle Adams ’13 ’20MS leads the Threat Management Team through some of the department’s most sensitive and high‑risk cases, approaching every situation with calm judgment and compassion. She manages a demanding workload with remarkable organization and focus, while also bringing valuable expertise from her task‑force work, which strengthens partnerships and improves the department’s overall preparedness. She advocates for officer wellness and mental health, ensuring officers receive vital crisis intervention training and provides support whenever needed. She played a key role in implementing the department’s new threatmanagement software and continues to lead confidently during Emergency Response Team deployments. Respected, trusted and consistently steady under pressure, she embodies what it means to be a strong and thoughtful leader.
Team of the Year: Department of Security (Steven Freund, Jarrell Odom ’18 ’23MS, Jennifer Floyd and Nick Cottone)
The Department of Security works tirelessly behind the scenes to support not just public safety, but the entire UCF community. They collaborate daily with Facilities, Athletics and colleges across campus while managing access control, license plate readers, guard services, and UCF’s complex camera system. Their work has a campus‑wide impact. The cameras they maintain are essential to criminal investigations and help keep students, faculty, staff and visitors safe at major events like Spirit Splash, football games, and free expression events. In 2025, they met the task of replacing 500 cameras before the end of the fiscal year — an achievement that secured leadership’s support for additional funding to continue modernizing the system.
Lifesaving Award: Andres Uzcategui and Ethan Temperato ’24
When a call came in reporting a woman unconscious and not breathing, officers Andres Uzcategui and Ethan Temperato acted immediately. Upon assessing her condition, they discovered she had no pulse. Uzcategui began lifesaving CPR while Temperato secured the scene to ensure responders had space to work. The patient stopped breathing multiple times, but the officers’ persistence brought her back each time and kept her alive until medical personnel arrived. Because of their quick action and unwavering determination, the woman survived.
Lifesaving Award: Mike Rivera and Hayden Bonas
Upon arriving at the scene of a medical emergency, Officer Michael Rivera immediately began CPR and rescue breaths on a student who had fainted and was unresponsive. Officer Hayden Bonas quickly cleared the room and retrieved an AED to assist. Working together, they stabilized the student until medical personnel arrived. In addition to this incident, Rivera administered lifesaving Narcan in a separate medical emergency and now teaches CPR and first aid to future law enforcement recruits — further extending his impact beyond the calls he responds to.
