The Fort Walton Beach Police Department named Carlderius (CK) Hansford as ‘Officer of the Year.’
“Officer Hansford exemplifies the very essence of a Fort Walton Beach Officer,” wrote the FWBPD in a press release. “He is committed to making a positive impact in the community. He goes above and beyond the call of duty each and every day. Officer Hansford is relatively new to police work but has shown maturity and skills well beyond what normally would be expected from a newer officer.”
In December of 2021, Officer Hansford was the first to arrive on a suicidal subject call. A man was sitting on the rails at the center of the Brooks Bridge with the intention to kill himself by jumping off the bridge.
Officer Hansford took a non-threatening posture and began a dialog with the subject. Over the next several minutes, he and Corporal Zbikowski worked as a team to de-escalate the situation and calm the man down.
- They were able to take the man from a highly agitated and irrational state of mind down to a calm and more rational demeanor.
- He came off the ledge and voluntarily agreed to go to the hospital for phycological evaluation.
“Officer Hansford’s pleasant and caring demeanor played an essential role in the team effort to keep the man from jumping off the bridge and likely killing himself,” wrote the FWBPD. “Officer Hansford even received a hug from the suicidal person as he was being removed from the bridge.”
Officer Hansford has also demonstrated a strong work ethic and has proven himself to be among the highest producing Officers within the Agency, according to the FWBPD.
- He responded to over 900 calls as the primary officer
- Conducted 635 traffic stops
- Issued 185 traffic citations
- Made 48 arrests
Still, his most significant contribution to the community and the Agency is his positive attitude and commitment to making a positive impact.
Officer Hansford is well-liked and respected by his supervisors and peers and is described as an upbeat, friendly, helpful team player. He is very reliable and continually maintains a positive attitude and always has an infectious smile on his face.
Congratulations!
