Cocoa Beach Officers Honored for Outstanding Service

The Cocoa Beach Police Department recognized two officers for outstanding service in 2023. Communications Shift Lead Divine Buttram received the Telecommunications Officer of the Year award, and Patrol Officer Robert Hill was named Officer of the Year. Both were honored for dedication, initiative, and contributions to the department and community safety.

Buttram, a four-year veteran, earned her award for consistent dedication, strong work ethic and a team-player attitude. In August, she became a certified Communications Training Officer, training new hires and ensuring operational continuity. Later that month, she promoted to Communications Shift Lead, taking on greater responsibility for Bravo squad and assisting the Communications Supervisor with training and personnel matters. Buttram's quick actions on Dec. 10, 2023, during a vehicle versus pedestrian incident, ensured the pedestrian received timely medical treatment and was expected to make a full recovery.

Officer Robert Hill, who joined the department in 2020 after serving in the U.S. Army, received Officer of the Year for exceptional performance and commitment. Assigned to Bravo-Nights as a Patrol Officer, Hill made 107 DUI arrests in 2023, the highest in the department, significantly contributing to road safety. He also issued 1,400 traffic citations and warnings and made 150 arrests. Hill volunteered over 540 hours of overtime to cover shift shortages, embodying the department's core values.

Amber Ziegler, the Records and Evidence Manager, was recognized as the 2023 Civilian of the Year for her crucial work in data management and reporting. In February, Ziegler aggregated statistical data from the department's legacy and new RMS systems, creating a digestible format for an accurate call for service data report. She also partnered with the Criminal Investigations Division to develop a system for tracking cases within the TraCS environment, streamlining follow-up procedures. Ziegler further demonstrated initiative by solving a complex issue with submitting the 2023 Uniform Crime Reporting data to the FBI, creating ad-hoc reports and manual calculations when automatic transmission failed.