Clearwater, Fla. (WFLA) — Clearwater Police Sergeant was confirmed Wednesday for helping to find an 8-year-old Clearwater girl who was subject to an Amber Alert after his mother was murdered in 2024.
Clearwater Police Sergeant Kevin Klein was awarded the 48th Annual Joseph F. Cornelius Family Foundation’s Unpaid Police Officer Award.
Watch: Dog was rescued from hot car after the window of the assistant station broke the window
Klein immediately took action after an amber alert was issued for a young girl whom police said they had been lured by their father after police said they had brutally murdered their mother.
Klein was able to track mobile phone pings in the Berail Road and St. Paul’s Drive areas.
“When we saw her there or when we saw her in a car from afar, we were delighted to find it,” Klein said. “The next thing was to try and get her back safely by making coordinated efforts with other agencies.”
Klein celebrates the team’s efforts to save the girls.
“I was humbled by it. I didn’t expect that. In my opinion, I was working that day,” Klein said. “This will be one of those things I remember for a long time.
Rotary also praised police and fire department employees for serving beyond service to the community.
Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department firefighter Chris Collins was awarded the 2025 Rotary Public Safety and Services Award for his efforts to support victims of Hurricane Helen in western North Carolina last fall.
Sergeant. Nicole Casparek of Clearwater Police Station was awarded the 2025 Rotary Public Safety Award last year for supporting coaches on a women’s softball team that had suddenly no coach. She continues to coach to this day.
