Clearwater police officer honored after two life-saving rescues just weeks apart

Police officer honored after 2 life-saving rescues

A Clearwater police officer who saved a child and a woman in two separate incidents last year received the department’s highest honor Wednesday during the Rotary Club of Clearwater’s luncheon. FOX 13's Kailey Tracy reports.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - A Clearwater police officer who saved a child and a woman in two separate incidents last year received the department’s highest honor Wednesday during the Rotary Club of Clearwater’s luncheon.

Officer Andrew Billups was named the recipient of the 49th Annual Joseph F. Cornelius Family Foundation Outstanding Police Officer of the Year Award. The recognition follows a string of high-stakes calls where Officer Billups was credited with preventing potential tragedies through calm negotiation and quick action.

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This is the department’s highest honor, as Billups had two lifesaving efforts last year, just 10 weeks apart. The first one involved an 8-year-old autistic girl and another involved a suicidal woman on the memorial causeway bridge.

In May of last year, Lavina, an 8-year-old girl, was with her family on Clearwater Beach when she was lost.  She was non-verbal and did not know how to swim, which made it even more important that they were able to find her quickly. According to officials, Officer Billups found her and brought her to safety.

Body camera footage from the rescue captured Billups gently talking the girl to safety, as he climbed down onto the rocks.

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"It's kind of a balance I was going through, whether to push the scenario and be assertive and try to really keep it from happening and being calm enough to make sure I got the desired outcome," Officer Billups said.

"It's obviously the peak of being in law enforcement, it's everything you're looking to do," Officer Billups said after the heroic save. 

"My husband picked him up and thanked him 150 times and would not put him down," Lavina’s grandmother said. "I can never tell you how much I appreciate that."

Just 10 weeks later, Billups was called to the Memorial Causeway Bridge for a call involving a suicidal woman. Clearwater Police Chief Eric Gandy said Billups used his training to build trust with the woman, eventually talking her down from the ledge.

"In both incidents, Officer Billups showed an amazing, calm professionalism, and most of all, compassion," Gandy said. "The Clearwater Police Department is very fortunate to have officers like him, officers who know what to do when people are in danger."

Despite the accolades, Billups said the award came as a shock.

"I didn’t ever expect it," Billups said. "I'm going to take the gratitude I got from the community and from my department for my actions," he said. "I’m going to continue to do the same thing."

The Rotary Club also awarded two Public Safety and Service Awards for 2026. Cpl. Eric Mitchell was recognized for his community outreach with the Clearwater Blue Foundation and Alpha House of Pinellas County. Lt. Chris Quinn of Clearwater Fire & Rescue was honored for his dedication to training and mentoring the next generation of firefighters.