Release posted on 02-11-22 at 2:47 p.m.

The St. Petersburg Police Department congratulates Sergeant Ryan T. Bellittera and Officer Courtney C. Parker for being honored with the 2021 Ned March/Bud Purdy Award, a prestigious award presented today by the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg to recognize their outstanding careers within the Department.

Sgt. Bellittera has served the city for 16 years. He is currently Sergeant of the Special Events Unit, which plans and provides staffing for large-scale events within the city. With the outbreak of COVID 19, everything changed, and Sgt. Bellittera and his staff shifted roles to manage vaccine and testing sites. Currently, the Special Events Unit simultaneously manages the sites and large-scale events within the city, including the Firestone Grand Prix, Tampa Bay Rays games, and the MLK Day/Pride Parades.

Officer Park also has served the city for 16 years and is currently a Community Service Officer. Officer Parker aides in improving quality of life issues for residents in the community he serves, while also bridging the gap between the community and our police department. Officer Parker goes above and beyond the duties expected of an officer in his position, resulting in a community that feels safe and connected with its Community Service Officer.

The St. Petersburg Police Department thanks the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg for its continued support and sponsorship of this annual award.