BELLEFONTE — The Centre County district attorney’s office recently announced the four local law enforcement officers nominated for 2023 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Each year, the district attorney’s office selects one officer from the nominees who made an impact the previous year in upholding the standards of law enforcement and went above and beyond to contribute to the pursuit of justice in the county.
“We live in a pretty healthy, safe county,” shared District Attorney Bernie Cantorna. “But (the award) represents an officer who has consistently done very good work, who represents the best that law enforcement has to offer. Who year in and year out provides investigations that are very productive for our office. … Other nominations are sometimes due to the officer’s response to an event that caused or called for immediate action, bravery, above and beyond the call of duty.”
Cantorna credited the success of the district attorney’s office to the law enforcement officers who aid in their cases through their investigations.
“The truth is, any credit that we get for our office doing a good job is a direct result of the law enforcement officers who have worked the case. It is a partnership,” he explained. “Some are involved in some of these cases at the outset and we work together with them. Others, it’s their case that’s worked up and presented, and we played no role other than bringing it across the finish line.”
Cantorna, alongside other members of the district attorney’s office and the county detective, will select a winner from the following nominees for the 2023 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year:
Detective Lucas Nelson — Spring Township Police Department
In a press release by the Centre County district attorney’s office, Detective Luc Nelson is noted for his ability to diffuse tense situations, a result of his crisis intervention team training, and personability, which helps him maintain good relationships with the community and those in need.
In 2023 Detective Nelson was involved in multiple serious crimes of violence and homicide cases filed and pending in the Court of Common Pleas. The press release noted that “a common theme in cases where victims have lost loved ones, is the fact that Detective Nelson not only gathers the evidence to support the arrests, he also establishes a bond with the families and helps them through what can be a grueling legal process. His empathy and work ethic are experienced directly by the victims and is something that provides comfort in extremely difficult times.”
Detective Craig Ripka — State College Police Department
Since 2006, Detective Craig Ripka has served as a police officer for the State College Police Department. During his career, he has trained in and as a crisis intervention officer, bicycle officer, cellphone forensics, wiretap and electronic surveillance and crime scene processing.
Ripka’s primary focus for the State College Police Department is handling reported sexual assault investigations, but he additionally leads the county as a trusted adviser and presenter for sexual assault trainings for many agencies.
Ripka was the primary investigator on several high-profile investigations in 2023. According to the press release, “Ripka’s work went well beyond the initial investigation to include in-depth detective work and following the case through the prosecution stages.” The release also noted that many other agencies outside of the State College Police Department rely on Ripka’s experience to further their own cases.
Detective Nicholas Sproveri — The Pennsylvania State University Police Department
Detective Nicholas Sproveri’s work on a decades-old rape case led to his nomination for the 2023 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Alongside the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, Sproveri was able to use genealogy and a DNA match to identify the perpetrator of the rape of two women, one in State College and one in Michigan.
According to the press release, “Detective Sproveri serves on the FBI joint task force, conducts computer forensic analysis investigations and thoroughly investigates and works up the cases that he is assigned. He routinely assists other law enforcement agencies in providing information and analysis in forensic evidence, and embodies the characteristics of a diligent, thorough and ethical detective.”
Officer Bradley Tuskovich — Patton Township Police Department
Tuskovich serves as the school resource officer at Park Forest Middle School. He also visits the two elementary schools in Patton Township daily in an effort to ensure that the children of the schools are safe. Additionally, he is a member of the Centre County tactical response team and works as the community relations officer for Patton Township, As the community relations officer, he does outreach on the radio and the Junior Police Academy, produces YouTube videos for Patton Township’s Police Pointers and plans and coordinates the Patton Township Children’s Safety Fair.
Tuskovich received a nomination “for his consistent dedication to the community and the law enforcement profession,” according to the press release. It was also in part due to his actions in saving an individual in cardiac arrest on Jan. 19, 2023.
Over the coming weeks, the district attorney’s office will select the award winner and will host a ceremony and reception for the recipient on a date to be announced.
PAST CENTRE COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS OF THE YEAR
• 2019 – State College Officer John Aston, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jeffrey Ebeck
• 2020 – State College Detective Donald Paul, Patton Township Officer Brian Shaffer
• 2021 – State College Detective Stephen Bosak
• 2023 — Ferguson Township Detective Caleb Clouse, Bellefonte Officer Macy Neideigh
