TALLAHASSEE—Attorney General James Uthmeier awarded the 2025 Attorney General's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year to Detective Eva Solis of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

The 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Ceremony honored the service of Detective Solis and 11 other brave officers who demonstrated great courage and selflessness while going above and beyond the call of duty last year. 

"It is my honor to recognize Detective Solis as the 2025 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and Officer Cody Poppell as the inaugural Moment of Valor Honoree," said Attorney General James Uthmeier. "Detective Solis’ and Officer Poppell’s commitment extends far beyond the call of duty."

The recognition stems from the Solis' exceptional investigative work on one of the most horrific child exploitation and human trafficking cases in Clay County Sheriff’s Office history. A citizen discovered a thumb drive locked in a safe at an abandoned storage unit. The device was turned over to law enforcement, where investigators discovered extensive material related to child sexual exploitation. Some of the key findings from the investigation include seven identified victims, one child rescued, three victims recovered and more than two million CSAM files.

The dedication shown by Solis led to the takedown of true predators, who are now in federal custody, and her work reflects the highest ideals of law enforcement and protecting those who cannot protect themselves—especially children.

“Thank you, Attorney General James Uthmeier, for this recognition and for highlighting a child exploitation investigation. This was the most heinous case of my career and today, the defendant was found guilty by a jury of his peers,” Solis said. “Today’s verdict is a huge win for the victims of this case. This award highlights the collaborative efforts of citizens, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Intercept Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Cocoa Police Department, the Clay County State Attorney’s Office, and the Middle District of Florida’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

 Uthmeier also recognized Florida State University Police Department Officer Poppell with the inaugural Moment of Valor award, a newly established distinction acknowledging extraordinary courage and decisive action in the face of imminent danger. 

 Poppell’s heroic response during the April 17, 2025, active assailant incident on Florida State University's campus exemplifies the highest values of law enforcement. Amid the chaos, Poppell acted swiftly, riding his motorcycle over a sidewalk and onto campus to confront the threat head-on. He fired multiple shots, bringing the situation to an end and preventing even more tragedy. His actions were instrumental in protecting lives and maintaining public safety during a critical incident.