Detective Daniel Bray

A Lehigh Acres Sheriff’s detective has been honored by the Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce for police work he did nearly four ago that netted an arrest of an accused sexual offender whose crime occurred September 23, 2006.

Although the case had not been solved, Detective Daniel Bray who works out of the Brava Station on Homestead Blvd., had asked for a DNA sample back in 2006, and that evidence brought about the arrest of a suspect in November of last year. The arrest was made by Bray while performing an investigation of a stolen air conditioning unit at which time he requested a DNA analysis.

On January 3 of this year, the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement (FDLD) sent a report notifying the Lee County Sheriff’s Office that the DNA collected by Bray matched previously unidentified DNA collected following the sexual battery that had taken place in September of 2006.

Because of the match, Bray made an arrest with the suspect being charged with sexual battery on Feb. 11 of this year.

Lt. James Loethen told the chamber group that this was top notch police work and presented the certificate recognizing Daniel Bray as the chamber’s Officer of the Month.

Employees of the Month: The Lehigh Acres Chamber of Commerce honored three employees of the First National Bank of the Gulf for the way they reacted to a bank robbery. Shown are from left to right, Chamber Chairman Joe Pearson, Isabelle Mercedes and Diane Pledger, bank employees, and John Kimbell, a bank director. Also honored but not present was employee Addie Williams. Photo by Mel Toadvine

According to Brava District Capt. Ed Tamayo, the course of events is one of the many examples demonstrating Bray’s consistent work going above and beyond his day to day duties proving that perfection is not just an attitude or for self-gratification, but for that of a commitment to the residents of Lehigh Acres.

The chamber luncheon was held March 29 at the Majestic Golf Club on Homestead Rd.

Joe Pearson, chairman of the chamber’s board of directors, conducted the meeting.

Pearson also presented two citations to Isabelle Mercedes and Diane Pledger, employees of First National Bank of the Gulf Coast in Lehigh. They had been nominated by John S. Kimbell, financial representative of Alliance Financial Group in Fort Myers, and a First National Bank director, who said he walked into the bank just after the robbery and found the employees calm after the ordeal they had just gone through.

Ironically, Kimbell was recognized as the chamber’s Member of the Month.

Jim Kimbell, right, was chosen by the Lehigh Chamber of Commerce as its Member of the Month. At left is Joe Pearson, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Kimbell, along with chamber chairman Pearson said there were three citations for the bank employees but Addie Williams, who was also recognized, was unable to attend.

Receiving the framed citations were Isabelle Mercedes and Diane Pledger.

Their citations noted that the three had been nominated by the bank for their “extremely quick professional, comprehensive and effective response” following a bank robbery that occurred on Dec. 15, 2010.

“They showed coolness given to the situation and it was obvious that great training had paid off,” he said.

Kimbell prior to the naming of the Employees of the Month, was presented the chamber’s Member of the Month by chairman Pearson.

Officer of the Month: Lt. James Loethen, second in command at the Brava District Sheriff’s Substation, left, told the chamber audience why Detective Daniel Bray, right, was honored. Photo by Mel Toadvine

Kimbell, who has been an active member of the chamber for nearly half a decade, has actively participated in the chamber’s Leads Group where he served as the committee’s chairman during its dramatic growth last year.

He was thanked for his leadership, time and commitment to the chamber.