Centre County honors nominees for 2024 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year
BELLEFONTE, Pa. (WTAJ) — From saving lives to solving cold cases, six local officers are being recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty in Centre County.
The Centre County District Attorney Office has announced its nominees for the 2024 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award. The annual honor highlights officers who have made significant contributions to public safety through professionalism, compassion and proactive service.
Among the nominees is Lt. Charles Hamilton of the State College Police Department, whose leadership of the Criminal Investigations Unit included overseeing more than 79 cases and mentoring colleagues on complex investigations involving death, sexual assault and mental health crises. He also guided the department's Social Worker Program, which continued to grow under his direction in 2024.
Officer Lisa Larkin, formerly with Penn State Police and now with Bellefonte Police, was nominated for her skillful handling of domestic and DUI cases. Her investigations led to a conviction of a repeat DUI offender and resolution of a domestic case without requiring the victim to testify in court.
Also nominated is Trooper Tyler Prisk of the Pennsylvania State Police, who defused a barricade situation involving a suspect threatening violence. Prisk is also among the top DUI enforcers at the Rockview barracks and frequently appears in court to support prosecution efforts.
Detective Nicholas Sproveri of Penn State University Police was recognized for his work in high-profile investigations, including the arrest of a fentanyl dealer in a student overdose case and a 21-year-old rape cold case solved through DNA and genealogical evidence.
Patton Township Police Officer Elijah Vardzel was nominated for lifesaving actions in two medical emergencies, his work in organizing a human trafficking sting, and his commitment to following through on complex cases often assigned to detectives.
The nominees represent the diverse and critical roles law enforcement plays across Centre County, from frontline response to behind-the-scenes investigation.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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