BELLEFONTE — Each year the Centre County District Attorney’s Office receives nominations from the public, law enforcement and government agencies of individuals to be recognized for their exceptional work in law enforcement, above and beyond the call of duty.

The nominees represent a snapshot of the work that police do in our community every day. The nominees for 2024 are as follows:

Officer Lisa Larkin – Bellefonte Police

Officer Lisa Larkin of the Bellefonte Police, and formerly of the Pennsylvania State University Police, has come to be known and respected for her dedication, proficiency and the empathy she exemplifies everyday in service to our community. In 2023 Officer Larkin was recognized for her work while employed with the Pennsylvania State University Police. She was dispatched to a report of a domestic incident in student housing. She met with a traumatized victim, dealt with her empathetically and managed an extremely sensitive and important investigation. While she was spending an extensive period of time with the victim, her team conducted a thorough investigation, including speaking with multiple witnesses and obtaining a statement from the defendant confessing his actions. Due to the thorough investigation by Officer Larkin, the case was resolved without a trial or testimony of any kind, with a sentence that protected the public and appropriately addressed the serious crime that had been committed.

Officer Larkin has recently been hired by the Bellefonte Police Department. A few weeks after beginning work with the Bellefonte Police Department, she had contact with an individual who had seven prior Driving Under the Influence arrests and convictions. She conducted a traffic stop for a suspected DUI of an individual from Michigan in the early morning hours in downtown Bellefonte. Officer Larkin deescalated what was a tense and confrontational interview. She painstakingly investigated the case and dealt with the arrested individual professionally and calmly, while being continuously faced with derogatory remarks from the suspect. That professional work ensured a conviction and appropriate sentence that protected the public from a now eighth lifetime convicted DUI offender.

Trooper Tyler Prisk – PA State Police

Trooper Prisk exemplifies what it means to be a trooper and how to conduct oneself professionally under some of the most dire and harrowing circumstances. In 2024 Trooper Prisk was called out to the home of a suspect who had barricaded himself inside his residence. During this encounter, Trooper Prisk interacted with the suspect and deescalated the situation even while having the butt stock of a gun shown to him while death threats were being made. Trooper Prisk handled the incident in a manner that showed restraint, deescalating what could have been a deadly incident between the suspect and police.

Trooper Prisk routinely has the most DUI arrests out of the Rockview State Police barracks. He testifies in Centre County court and has testified in most trials in 2024, reflecting his productivity. Trooper Prisk exemplifies the best and highest qualities of a law enforcement officer and a State Police Trooper.

Lt. Charles Hamilton – State College Police

Lt. Charles Hamilton was hired by the State College Police Department in March of 2006 and received Crisis Intervention training in June of 2011. He was promoted to Lieutenant in May of 2016 and assumed the specialized position of Criminal Investigations Lieutenant in January of 2022. In this position, Lt. Hamilton is responsible for all critical and serious criminal investigations to include but not limited to death, rape and assault investigations handled by the State College Police Department.

In 2024 Lt. Hamilton not only supervised the State College Police detective unit but also personally handled his own caseload to include 79 incidents, 59 follow-up investigations and 10 arrests. Lt. Hamilton was on-call throughout the entire year; tirelessly making himself available for his detectives and patrol supervisors. They routinely used him for his investigative and mental health-related advice and expertise at all hours of the day.

Lt. Hamilton also continued with numerous other responsibilities throughout the year to include but not limited to the following:

— CIT Centre County Law Enforcement Liaison and instructor

— CIT Steering Committee member

— Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force member

— Team Leader of the Centre County Threat Management Team

— Team Leader Centre County Negotiations Team

— Member of PA 988 Crisis and AOPC Crisis Committee

— Supervisor of the State College Police Social Worker program

— Duty to Intervene and Surviving Verbal Conflict instructor

Lt. Hamilton’s leadership involvement in the above responsibilities is a testament to his unwavering commitment to serving the community, his fellow law enforcement officers and partnering agencies. Specifically, Lt. Hamilton became not only an expert in the field of law enforcement and mental health for the State College Police Department but was a dependable resource for all county agencies impacted by mental health in 2024. Lt. Hamilton also oversaw the growth and development of the State College Police Department Social Worker Program which is a unique initiative in Centre County. This program was successfully created, developed and continued to flourish in 2024 as a result of Lt. Hamilton’s guidance, leadership and expertise.

Detective Nicholas Sproveri –

Pennsylvania State University Police

Detective Nicholas Sproveri of the Penn State University Police Department is a dedicated law enforcement professional. Since 2010, Detective Sproveri has served with distinction across a wide range of roles and responsibilities within the department, including the last seven years in the Criminal Investigation Unit. His professionalism, technical expertise and unwavering commitment to justice and victim advocacy have been instrumental in resolving complex cases for both the University Police and other agencies throughout Centre County. Detective Sproveri’s distinguished work is exemplified through several significant investigations:

— Commonwealth vs. Grover (2018): Following the overdose death of a Penn State student from fentanyl, Detective Sproveri meticulously compiled and analyzed digital evidence, surveillance footage and search warrants. His detailed and methodical approach led to the identification and charging of the dealer, Mr. Grover, with Drug Delivery Resulting in Death. The case concluded with a plea agreement sentencing Grover to 7 1/2 to 19 years in state prison.

— Cold Case – Penn State Golf Course (2000): In a rape case dating back to 2000, Detective Sproveri reopened the investigation in 2021 and collaborated with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan. By linking DNA evidence and employing modern genealogical testing, he helped identify and arrest Kurt Rillema, who has since been charged in Michigan and is awaiting further court proceedings in Centre County.

His contributions not only embody but elevate the core mission of protecting and serving our communities, making him a deserving candidate for Centre County Officer of the Year.

Officer Elijah Vardzel – Patton TWP Police

Elijah Vardzel was nominated for recognition as a proactive police officer who is always looking for ways to make our community a safer place. In 2023 he was instrumental in coordinating a human trafficking sting with Federal and State law enforcement partners. He spearheaded the development and continues to oversee the Centre County Crash Reconstruction Team. He works as a liaison with loss prevention with businesses in Patton Township. In 2024 he assisted on two lifesaving calls, one being an opioid overdose where naloxone was administered. The patient regained consciousness and became responsive by the time EMS arrived. The other was a cardiac arrest where Vardzel and another officer performed CPR. The patient regained a pulse and was transported to the hospital for more advanced care. Elijah handles many cases that Patrol would generally send to a detective. He takes pride in seeing a case through, making an arrest and getting justice for victims of crime.