Released on 3-19-21 at 2:30 p.m.

Today two SPPD Sergeants were recognized by the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg with the Ned March/Bud Purdy Award. Sgt. Thaddeus Coffin, Sgt. Chad Fite, their families and two members of the Rotary Club gathered for a socially distant ceremony where Coffin and Fite were honored for their years of service to the St. Petersburg community as sworn officers with SPPD.

"Thad" Coffin was sworn in at the St. Petersburg Police department in January of 2005. He worked in patrol until 2008, when he was transferred to the Personal Violence Unit (PVU). In 2014, he moved to the Crimes Against Children. Once there he also joined the Internet Crimes Against Children and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. While working in these capacities, Coffin also was responsible for downloading and analyzing all digital devices (including cell phones, tablets, gas pump skimmers, computers game consoles etc) in preparation for court. He now has three officers working with him in the Digital Forensics Unit. Furthermore, Coffin is responsible for bringing some high-cost resources to the department through his connections to other law enforcement agencies.

Sergeant Chad Fite has served with SPPD for more than 21 years. He started off in patrol and later became a Field Training Officer, where he mentored new officers. Sgt. Fite found his true passion was in undercover investigations. He got so good at it, he has been used to help train other law enforcement agencies in the Tampa Bay area. After 14 years of undercover work, Sgt. Fite decided to step outside of his comfort zone and dedicate the remainder of his time at SPPD to teaching young cops. He now supervises the Field Training Squad in District 3, where he continues to teach and be a great example for newer officers.

Both Sgts. Coffin and Fite were presented with a watch and a check from the Rotary Club.

The St. Petersburg Rotary club has been recognizing two sworn police officers every year in honor of Rotary Club member Ned March and his best friend E. Wilson "Bud" Purdy since 1952.

March personally funded the Ned March Awards until his death in 1963. Back then, fellow Rotarian (and March's best friend) Bud Purdy, stepped in to make sure the tradition continued.

In 2007, the name was changed to the Ned March/Bud Purdy Awards to honor both mens' efforts to ensure two of St. Petersburg Police Department's finest officers are recognized for their stellar work each year.