Melbourne Police Annual Awards Event Honors Exceptional Service, Accomplishments

held at One Oak at Hemingway Tavern

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The Melbourne Police Department hosted its 18th Annual Awards Ceremony, recognizing the exceptional service and accomplishments of both sworn and non-sworn personnel for 2025.

The event was held at One Oak at Hemingway Tavern and generously sponsored by the Melbourne Police Foundation.

The 2025 Melbourne Police Department award recipients are:

Patrol Officer of the Year: Officer Edgardo Ramos-Reyes

Officer Edgardo Ramos-Reyes is Melbourne Police Department’s Patrol Officer of the Year for 2025. He has distinguished himself through exceptional investigative skill, self-initiative, an exemplary work ethic, and commitment to the highest standards of professionalism.

Officer Ramos-Reyes’s investigative efforts have led to the successful identification and arrest of suspects involved in serious offenses through persistence, attention to detail, and thorough follow-up. His victim-centered approach and willingness to pursue investigations beyond initial reporting have resulted in meaningful case resolutions.

His bilingual abilities have proven invaluable in investigations involving language barriers, allowing him to conduct interviews, obtain critical statements, and provide translation support. He has emerged as a respected leader among his peers and was recently selected to serve as a Field Training Officer, further supporting the mission of the Melbourne Police Department.

Communications Officer of the Year: Wendy Luszczewski

Communications Officer of the Year Wendy Luszczewski exemplifies the highest standards of the profession through her sound judgment, exceptional professionalism, and unwavering dedication to supporting both the public and responding units. She was recognized for playing a key role in a number of critical incidents in 2025, including coordinating communications during a complex, multi-agency response that led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle and apprehension of suspects who had fled on foot.

Communications Officer Luszczewski consistently exceeds expectations in her daily responsibilities by taking extra time to assist callers, ensuring proper guidance is provided, and courteously treating everyone with equal respect. Her composure under pressure and commitment to public service exemplify the critical role she performs as a Communications Officer in field operations.

Civilian Employee of the Year: Melinda Bishop

Melinda Bishop was awarded 2025 Civilian Employee of the Year in recognition of her professionalism, adaptability, and unwavering commitment to excellence in support of the Criminal Investigations Division and the Special Investigations Unit.

Last year she played a crucial role during the department’s transition to the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center, both in the transfer of hundreds of CID documents and by collaborating with Information Technology and Communications Center personnel to manage call routing to detectives, organize office and cubicle spaces, and establish an efficient supply area for the transition.

In 2025, she also assumed management of the CID spare vehicle fleet and expanded her responsibilities to include account processing, vendor coordination, fee payments, and comprehensive file organization. Within SIU, she supports operations by tracking confidential informant payments, processing Crimeline tips, coordinating narcotics complaints, and assisting with asset forfeitures.

Field Training Officer of the Year: FTO Jacob Dial

Throughout 2025, FTO Jacob Dial demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the training, mentorship, and professional development of new officers.

During this period, he was assigned eight Trainees requiring 93 days of training, voluntarily covered numerous additional shifts when other FTOs were unavailable, and regularly hosted ride-alongs.

His ability to balance extensive instructional demands while continuing to perform at a high operational level has made him a tremendous asset to the FTO Program.

During 2025, he was also recognized for his role in several key incidents, including the safe apprehension of knife-wielding suspect, exceptional documentation of a crime scene and instruction of a trainee on proper crime scene processing techniques, a traffic stop that resulted in the seizure of 16 pounds of marijuana and $12,000 cash inside the vehicle, and an investigation of an ongoing domestic violence situation that prevented the suspect from obtaining a firearm.

In 2025 he completed nearly 100 citations and written warnings, made over 50 arrests, filed charges for 14 suspects, conducted 24 field interviews, worked 89 separate cases, and handled 13 crash investigations. These figures do not include the substantial work completed while training recruits.

Detective of the Year: Detective Christopher Clayton

Detective Christopher Clayton has consistently distinguished himself as an exceptional investigator, a highly effective task force officer, and a respected leader within the Special Investigations Unit.

Throughout the year, he has demonstrated meticulous attention to detail, an unwavering work ethic, and a level of professionalism that exceeds the expectations of his position.

In addition to his responsibilities as an SIU detective, Clayton serves as a Task Force Officer on the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, where he has played a critical role in several major initiatives, including a key leadership role during Operation C.L.E.A.N., a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional operation targeting high-risk gang and narcotics activity.

He was the primary investigator for a major search warrant, which resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of illegal narcotics, firearms, ammunition, and magazines that directly disrupted the distribution of dangerous narcotics and firearms within Melbourne, leading to the charging of a suspect and a federal indictment.

Last year he also served as the Lead Master Taser Instructor and is an instructor for Firearms, Vehicle Operations, and Medical, and he played a pivotal role in the implementation of the agency’s new Virtual Reality training system.
Supervisor of the Year: Lieutenant Brendon Eder

Lieutenant Brendon Eder was awarded Supervisor of the Year in recognition of his consistently sound leadership, decisive judgment and professionalism in support of his personnel and the department’s mission.

During 2025, Eder addressed one of the most challenging staffing years within the Patrol Division. His squad was significantly impacted by injuries and extended absences, at one point operating with six fewer officers than allotted.

Even under these demanding conditions, his squad consistently led the department in arrests, case reports, traffic stops, citations, and written warnings. This level of performance was achieved through meticulous planning, clear and consistent communication, and an unwavering commitment.

In addition to his daily supervisory responsibilities, he also serves as a Department Trainer and leads the Emergency Response Team. In 2025 he led ERT personnel during six major protest events. Under his supervision, each demonstration was managed with competence and control, order was maintained, and the rights and safety of both the public and responding officers were protected.

Similar Stories