Duchak said these are difficult times as agencies deal with the “human trauma” of heroin, second guessing of law enforcement actions and “keyboard lawyers on social media.”
“It takes some pretty special and amazing people to do this job day in and day out,” he said.
However, the sheriff reminded law enforcement professionals that the vast majority of their fellow county residents appreciate them more than they realize. “There is way more good than bad and society needs each of you now more than ever,” Duchak said.
“Too many times you hear of bad things that officers do. Now, tonight, we get to tell what officers do that are good, how great they are and what they do out there on the road and in the jail,” said Billie Ray, president of Miami County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 58.
Ray presented Fraternal Order of Police Community Service Awards to Ptlm. Jeremy Weber of Piqua police and civilians Jocinda Johns and Jamie Stahl for their work with Pennies for Malisa in honor of a four-year-old abused and killed in Piqua in 2012. FOP Community Service Awards also were presented to Capt. Tom Wheeler and Capt. Dave Norman for their efforts following the death in November of longtime Sheriff Charles Cox.
Also recognized were:
Miami County Sheriff's Office: Chase Underwood, the Deputy of the Year and Perry Gullette as the Correction Officer of the Year.
Sheriff's Office: Life Saving Awards, Lt. Nate Collett, Correction Officer Mark Larger, Correction Angel Robinson, Deputy Richard Manns, Deputy Scott Lade, Deputy Ryan Stein, Deputy Jeremy Adams and Deputy Scott Leininger. Commendations: Deputy Nathan Jessup, Deputy Brad Kline, Deputy Warren Edmondson, Lt. Mike Whaley, Lt. Mike Marion, Carol Foster and Rene Ingle.
Tipp City Police Department: Ptlm. Bruce Mancz, Officer of the Year
Covington Police Department: Officer Tim Cline, Officer of the Year
Miami County 9-1-1: Shannon Adams, Employee of the Year
Ohio State Highway Patrol: Trooper Eric Devers, Trooper of the Year; Dispatcher Ashley Thomas, Dispatcher of the Year; and Sgt. Dave Robison, State Chiaramonte Humanitarian Award winner.
Piqua Police Department: Officer Jeremy Koehler, Officer of the Year; Officer Adams Kimpel, Alan Yount and Deputy Chief Marty Grove, Lifesaving Awards.
Troy Police Department: presented no awards
West Milton Police Department: Officer Ryan Ingle, Officer of the Year.
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.
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