URBANA, Illinois – The Division of Public Safety held its annual awards ceremony on April 10, 2025, to honor officers, civilian staff and community members for exemplary work in service to the community throughout the last year.
Officer Betsy Alfonso was nominated and selected by her peers as the Ralph F. Hamlin Officer of the Year.
Officer Alfonso joined the Division of Public Safety as a lateral transfer in July 2023 with 12 and a half years of law enforcement experience. She is a certified juvenile police officer, a Special Victims Unit member and a Response, Evaluation and Crisis Help (REACH) Behavioral Health Detective.
“I joined law enforcement to serve, protect and make a difference in the lives of others,” Alfonso said. “Every day on this job is different, and every moment is a chance to show compassion, courage and commitment.”
In addition to earning the department’s top individual award, she was also the recipient of two other awards, including the Excellence in Community Policing Award, which she earned alongside her REACH partner, Crisis Responder Jessica Wilson.
The full list of awards:
Service Recognition Awards
5 years
Mohamed Alsaqri
Nina Broadnax
Jim Clark
Shaniece Cooper
Ben Crane
Daniel Kunde
Michael Mitrou
Alfredo Santos
Kennedy Truex
Christopher Williams
10 years
Jorge Garcia
Daryl Pearson
Corey Plotner
Debra Tharp
15 years
Ryan Lepp
Darren Lewis
20 years
Joseph McCullough
Nathaniel Park
Gregor Vacketta
Firearms Award
High Pistol
A.J. Martin
Michael Unander
High Rifle
Kent Jones
Excellence in Fitness
Daniel Leake
Commendations
Betsy Alfonso
Mohamed Alsaqri
Rob Benoit
Kenny Costa (2)
Ben Crane
Gabriel Donnelly
Bryan Fink (3)
Ethan Fowkes
Hunter Harrison
Jason Heimbaugh
Kent Jones
Dan Leake (2)
Ty Ledbetter
Megan Likens
Steve Logsdon
Matt Oliger
Corey Plotner
Ryan Risinger
Sam Smith
Tyson Snyder
Courtney Stewart (2)
Alex Tran
Jessica Wilson
Merit Awards
Regan Bolliger
Jason Bradley
Nina Broadnax
Dayna Brolon
Ben Crane
Jorge Garcia
Hunter Harrison
Kent Jones
Kyle Krickovich
Dan Leake
Ty Ledbetter
Darren Lewis
Steve Logsdon
A.J. Martin
Rob Murphy
Matt Oliger (2)
Drew Osterholt
Jared Ping
Ryan Risinger
Barb Robbins
James Scheel
Jeff Schroeder
Michelle Schroeder (2)
Dylan Short
Ryan Snow
Laura Tison
Alex Tran (2)
Kennedy Truex
Chris Williams
John Wright
Excellence in Community Policing
Betsy Alfonso
Jessica Wilson
Citizen Commendation Award
Kate Payant
Tiffany Fry
Campus Emergency Management Recognition Award
Amee Anawaty
Jen Wilson
Cecil Coleman Award
Stephen Bryan
Kristin McMurray
Life Saving Award
Matt Oliger
Alex Tran
Andy Pruitt (Champaign Fire Department – Special Recognition Award)
Cody Flowers (Champaign Fire Department – Special Recognition Award)
Tyler Garard (Champaign Fire Department – Special Recognition Award)
Student Patrol Officer of the Year
Maggie Sanchez
Security Guard of the Year
Daryl Pearson
Carol Bailey Civilian Employee of the Year
Abbigail Kepp
Director of Public Safety Recognition Award
Jim Clark
Ralph F. Hamlin Officer of the Year
Betsy Alfonso