Cocoa Police Department Honors Bryan Baylis as Officer of the Year During Award Ceremony

By  //  April 7, 2023

Sandra Madison named employee of the year

The Cocoa Police Department held its Awards Ceremony this month to recognize employees and private citizens at the Cocoa Civic Center. Officer of the Year, which was presented to Officer Bryan Baylis for his professionalism, dedication, and meticulous attention to detail in every case he handles. Officer Bryan Baylis joined the Cocoa Police Department in February 2021. (Cocoa PD image)

BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA –  The Cocoa Police Department held its Awards Ceremony this month to recognize employees and private citizens at the Cocoa Civic Center.

Chief Evander Collier IV and members of his command staff presented the awards during the ceremony.

■ Officer of the Year, which was presented to Officer Bryan Baylis for his professionalism, dedication, and meticulous attention to detail in every case he handles. He joined the Cocoa Police Department in February 2021.

Baylis is originally from Pocomoke, Maryland and earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Wingate University. From 2004-2006 he played center field for the university’s baseball program.

He moved to Florida in 2009 and spent 12 years working at the Kennedy Space Center as a member of the emergency response team. In 2019, Baylis graduated from the Criminal Justice Academy at Eastern Florida State College. He is the oldest of two boys, and is married with two daughters.

Since joining CPD in 2021, Officer Baylis has become a field training officer and SWAT officer. and has demonstrated excellence in nearly every call for service he handles.

■ Communications Officer of the Year, Kathy Dorans joined the Cocoa Police Department in March 1994 and  has become a model employee within the police department. She is currently responsible for assisting with the recruitment, hiring, and training of new communications officers. She also serves as a liaison with the fire department.

In 2022, Communications Officer Dorans worked multiple high-stress incidents including repeated bomb threats at a high school, a fire that forced the evacuation of a neighborhood, several vehicle pursuits, and serious crimes against persons where correctly communicating every detail was of the highest priority.

In February, Communications Officer Dorans was on duty when a series of bomb threats were called into Cocoa High School and played a significant role in making sure the appropriate resources were deployed and proper notifications were made.

The Cocoa Police Department, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Brevard County School District responded and spent several hours making sure the school was safe. No explosive devices were located and the threat was later determined not credible.

In every call that is handled, Communications Officer Dorans performs at the highest level of professionalism. Because of this, she delivers positive results to officers with active investigations.

These incidents often have successful conclusions either with arrest or with a clearance that restores calm to people and neighborhoods in need of assistance. Communications Officer Kathy Dorans is a true professional, an expert in her field, and worthy of recognition.

Employee of the Year: Sandra Madison is the lead records technician and works daily to ensure there is a collaborative effort between the records department and the rest of the police department. (Cocoa PD image)

■ Employee of the Year, Sandra Madison.  Madison is the lead records technician and works daily to ensure there is a collaborative effort between the records department and the rest of the police department.

She regularly seeks opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of her department by sending weekly messages to supervisors and command officers reminding them of any pending reports in need of supervisory attention.

Sandra has identified many issues in need of improvement in the records department, including report completion accountability for officers. Sandra has gained leadership skills, has grown as a supervisor, and has improved the overall accounting of the records division.

Other award categories and recipients:

■ Meritorious Service Ribbon: Officer Joshua Roane, Officer Clyde Hilliard III, Sgt. John Picheco, Sgt. Willie Stephenson, Sgt. Nick Moon, Sgt. Jeff Taylor, Officer Theodoros Yakarys.

■ Unit Citation Ribbons: Sgt. Willie Stephenson, Cpl. Gabriel Tullier, Officer Cierra Johnson, Detective Salvatore Fogu, Officer James Salley, Officer Eric Cronin, Officer Christopher Hattaway, Officer Brian Delos Santos, Officer Eric Myny, Officer Rafael Benitez-Sifontes, Officer Edward Hartzell, Detective Chistopher Zuniga, Crime Scene Technician Antonia Soto, Communications Officer Lynn Conley, Officer Bryan Baylis, Communications Officer James Supinksi, Sgt. John Picheco, Commander Anthony Marchica, Lt. Robert Bobay, Sgt. Benjamin Erskine, Detective Michael Cox, Detective Oscar Pimentel, Officer Amanda Torello, Officer Donald Tabor, Officer Christian Lind, Communications Officer Kathleen Dorans, Communications Officer Brittany Perdieu, Communications Officer Shadrena Jones, Dalaity Henson, Detective Sayge Gray, Officer Trevor Denham, Officer Kyle McNamara, Officer Jonathan Medina, Officer Ellison Gaulding, Communications Officer Erin Gutierrez, Sgt. Anthony Colombo, Officer Josh Roane, Officer Edward Hartzell, Communications Officer Michelle Perry, Communications Officer Sharla Freel.

Certificates of Appreciation: Brian Lober, Lisa Allawas, Barbara Matthews, Cpl. Ralph Perrone, Vincent Buonocore, Charlie Perrone, John Verdi, Ronald Moore, Henry Jones, Michael Blake, Sean Johnson, Gabiella Gayle. (Cocoa PD image)

■ Certificates of Appreciation: Brian Lober, Lisa Allawas, Barbara Matthews, Cpl. Ralph Perrone, Vincent Buonocore, Charlie Perrone, John Verdi, Ronald Moore, Henry Jones, Michael Blake, Sean Johnson, Gabiella Gayle.

■ Injury Medal: Officer Trevor Denham

■ Life Saving Ribbon: Officer Isaac Dean

■ VCOP of the 1st Quarter: Andy Clay

■ VCOP of the 4th Quarter: Marci Davis

■ Employee of the 1st Quarter: Justin Archey

■ Employee of the 2nd Quarter: Sandra Madison

■ Employee of the 3rd Quarter: Code Officer Augusto Gonzalez-Ruiz

■ Employee of the 4th Quarter: Joanna Tabor

■ Communications Officer of the 1st Quarter: Lynn Conley

■ Communications Officer of the 2nd Quarter: Kathleen Dorans and Kristin Sanders

■ Communications Officer of the 3rd Quarter: Kathleen Dorans

■ Communications Officer of the 4th Quarter: Tabatha Allen

■ Officer of the 1st Quarter: Detective Salvatore Fogu

■ Officer of the 2nd Quarter: Officer Cierra Johnson

■ Officer of the 3rd Quarter: Officer Rafael Benitez-Sifontes

■ Officer of the 4th Quarter: Officer Bryan Baylis

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