Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg presents public service awards

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Coast Guard Capt. Sheryl Dickinson, Commander, Sector St. Petersburg and Coast Guard Cdr. Peter Martin, Deputy Commander, Sector St. Petersburg, presented public service awards to members of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, March 2, 2011.

The members were awarded the Coast Guard Certificate of Merit in recognition of their service to the American public and the Coast Guard for prosecuting several complex environmental crimes cases against the motor vessels Ocean Jade, Kerim, Avenue Star, as well as their parent companies between October 2008 and December 2010.

“We are fortunate to have incredibly strong partnerships here in the Tampa Bay area,” said Dickinson. “Ther cooperation between the agencies recognized today demonstrates our collective committment to protecting the marine environment and serves as a strong message to those who choose to pollute our waters.”

“We are honored to work with the Coast Guard in matters that affect the security of our country,” said The Honorable Robert E. O’Neill, U.S. Attorney, Middle District of Florida.