Chamber hosts annual Valor Awards
Published 9:15 am Saturday, September 7, 2024
Medal of Merit: John Westmoreland, Major Marcus Rakestraw, Sr., Sergeant Shane Williams, Administrative Coordinator Michelle Hollis, Assistant Court Clerk Tamara Harden, Captain James Vincent and Brent Kemp
Public Safety Person of the Year: KC Hullaby, John Westmoreland, EMA Director Zac Steele and Rasheed Fluker
Public Safety Unit of the Year: John Westmoreland, KC Hullaby, Director Shannan McLaughlin, Deputy Director Melody Swanson, Kimberly Allen, Bridgett Arrington, Elizabeth Brock, Celena Dockery, Tonya Massie, Zac Steele and Rasheed Fluker. Not pictured: Rickeisha McCrory
Communications Person of the Year: Brooke Walker
Lifesaving Award: Maegan McMillan, Sergeant Jake Scott, Firefighter Bailey Purvis, Firefighter Jordan Avera, EMT Heather James, EMT Amanda Owens and John Westmoreland. Not pictured: Lieutenant Caleb Harrison
Bronze Medal of Valor (LaGrange Police Department): John Westmoreland, Detective Bradley Shaw, Sergeant Darrell Prichard, Detective Charles Brown, Sergeant Stephen Spivey and Andrew Kilgore. Not pictured: Sergeant Hilton Swanson, Detective Milton Ligon, Detective Justin Norris
Bronze Medal of Valor (West Point Police Department and West Point Fire Department): John Westmoreland, Sergeant Dylan Harmon, Detective Brandon Poe, Officer Jeremy Moncus and Andrew Kilgore. Not pictured: Lieutenant Brice O’Steen, Sergeant Kristin King, Sergeant Zac Smith, Fire Chief Derick Staley, Firefighter/Paramedic Dillon Rogers, Firefighter/EMT Matt Knight and Firefighter/EMT Luke Shibley
Silver Medal of Valor: Heather Blane, Firefighter Kenny Maddox, Battalion Chief Scott Hester, Firefighter/Paramedic Andreas Harrilson, Firefighter/EMT Chris French, Firefighter/EMT Keith Bonner, Lieutenant Richard Kee and John Westmoreland
Gold Medal of Valor: Aaron Mabon, Summer Deal, Deputy Carrla Querry and John Westmoreland
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On Thursday evening, the Great Wolf Lodge convention center was filled with some of Troup County’s bravest men and women as the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce held its annual Valor Awards banquet.
The event is held as a way to honor and recognize first responders for helping to keep our community safe.
There were a total of 82 nominees for awards including the Medal of Merit, Public Safety Person of the Year, Public Safety Unit of the Year, Communications Person of the Year, Lifesaving Awards, Bronze Medal of Valor, Silver Medal of Valor and Gold Medal of Valor.
The evening began with a welcoming from John Westmoreland, the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce Board Chair.
“We are fortunate to live and work in a community that recognizes the importance of supporting our brave men and women who are on the front lines each and every day. Tonight is our opportunity to say thank you for your service and to let each of you know that you have our respect and our support,” Westmoreland said. “Valor is that quality that enables a person to encounter danger with firmness, personal bravery, courage and prowess. I think it’s a characteristic you’ll find especially true in all those who have been nominated.”
The invocation was offered by Chaplain JB Brown who serves with the LaGrange Fire Department, Troup County Fire Department and 911.
Next was the Presentation of Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance both done by the local Honor Guard with piper James Finley.
The National Anthem was beautifully performed by Connie Askew, a retired Troup County School System educator.
A video of Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp was shared as they were not able to attend the Valor Awards but wanted to express their heartfelt thanks to the First Responders of Troup County.
David Jenkins, Debbie Buckner and Vance Smith, all members of the Troup County Delegation of the Georgia House of Representatives, presented a House Resolution in recognition of the nominees. The House Resolution was received by leaders of the local first responder agencies; Jason Lawson, Shannan McLaughlin, Chief Bradfield, Chief Carter, Chief Fiveash, Chief Sheppard, Chief Strickland and Sheriff Woodruff.
Before the presentation of the awards, a video was played. It started with thunder, lightning and the National Weather Service alert of one of the 2023 tornado warnings for Troup County. Included in the video were actual 911 calls from individuals affected by the tornado and photos of the destruction from the tornado’s path. The video ended with a full list of the evening’s nominees.
The Medal of Merit is given to those who provide outstanding public safety programs for their community involving personal time given on and off the job.
Members of the Hogansville Police Department, Major Marcus Rakestraw, Sr., Captain James Vincent, Sergeant Shane Williams, Administrative Coordinator Michelle Hollis and Assistant Court Clerk Tamara Harden, were presented this award for their tradition of distributing Thanksgiving meals now in its 10th year, for hosting an annual Easter egg hunt, as well as national night out and trunk or treat and for visiting daycare centers to promote a positive image of law enforcement to youths.
The Public Safety Awards are given to public safety professionals who have performed their jobs with exceptional skill, expertise, innovation and results.
EMA Director Zac Steele was presented with the Public Safety Person of the Year Award. During the 2023 tornados, Steele worked with FEMA and GEMA to aid the citizens of Troup County and ensure that they received what they needed to recover from the destruction caused by the tornados.
The Troup County E-911 team (Director Shannan McLaughlin, Deputy Director Melody Swanson, Elizabeth Brock, Tonya Massie, Kimberly Allen, Bridgett Arrington, Celina Dockery and Rickeisha McCrory) was presented the Public Safety Unit of the Year Award. The team showed an unwavering commitment to saving lives amidst the 2023 tornado when they were inundated with over 600 calls to 911 in just 2 hours and faltering communications in some areas.
The Communications Person of the Year Award is given to a public safety professional who used their exceptional communications skills and resources to go above and beyond in the performance of their job.
Brooke Walker was presented with the Communications Person of the Year Award. When 911 received a call in regards to an ATV accident with injuries and the caller was unsure of their location, Walker, using her knowledge of Troup County, was able to piece together the limited information to determine their location and ensure responding units were fully briefed prior to arriving at the scene.
The Lifesaving Award is given in recognition of acts taken in a life-threatening situation where an individual’s life is in jeopardy.
Members of the LaGrange Fire Department, Lieutenant Caleb Harrison, Sergeant Jake Scott, Firefighter Jordan Avera and Firefighter Bailey Purvis along with members of AMR, EMT Heather James and EMT Amanda Owens were presented the Lifesaving Award.
LFD responded to an urgent call regarding a person in active labor. Arriving along with AMR, they found the person outside their apartment. The two teams worked together to safely get the patient into the ambulance. During transport, the patient gave birth at 27 weeks. The newborn had no pulse or respiration so the team immediately initiated CPR. After arriving at the hospital both mother and child received further care. The newborn soon regained a pulse and could breathe on its own. The quick response of the teams gave the infant a fighting chance at life.
The Bronze Medal of Valor is awarded in situations where during the course of an emergency, a public safety official or unit demonstrates extraordinary judgment and performance of duties. There was a tie for this award.
Members of the LaGrange Police Department, Sergeant Hilton Swanson, Detective Bradley Shaw, Detective Justin Norris, Detective Milton Ligon, Detective Charles Brown, Sergeant Stephen Spivey and Sergeant Darrell Prichard, were presented the Bronze Medal of Valor. The team responded to a scene that at first appeared to be an apparent suicide. After further investigation, a homicide was uncovered. With cooperation from the community and relentless around-the-clock work, the detectives were able to identify the suspects which resulted in arrests for felony murder and aggravated assault.
Members of the West Point Police Department, Lieutenant Brice O’Steen, Sergeant Dylan Harmon, Detective Brandon Poe, Officer Jeremy Moncus, Sergeant Kristin King and Sergeant Zac Smith along with members of the West Point Fire Department, Fire Chief Derick Staley, Firefighter/Paramedic Dillon Rogers, Firefighter/EMT Matt Knight and Firefighter/EMT Luke Shibley, were also presented with the Bronze Medal of Valor.
While in the middle of an arrest, a suspect in WPPD custody voluntarily shared that they were on their way to buy fentanyl and that their supplier had just received a large quantity. Due to the nature of the drugs, the criminal investigations division along with the fire department were called in to join forces and formulate a plan. As a team, the fire and police departments worked together to conduct a sweep, secure the area and make arrests.
The Silver Medal of Valor is the second-highest award for bravery and heroism and is awarded in situations when a public safety officer or unit knowingly takes great personal risk in the performance of an official act.
Members of the Troup County Fire Department, Firefighter/Paramedic Andreas Harrilson, Lieutenant Richard Kee, Firefighter/EMT Keith Bonner, Firefighter/EMT Chris French, Firefighter Kenny Maddox and Battalion Chief Scott Hester, were presented with the Silver Medal of Valor. The Troup County Fire Department was dispatched to a multiple-vehicle accident on I-85 involving a Coweta County deputy car. A vehicle was wedged under an 18-wheeler with a person trapped inside. Upon arrival, the team immediately began patient assessment and triage. The deputy was treated and transported for further care. Meanwhile, extrication work began on the trapped vehicle. Within 30 minutes the patient was extricated and transferred to a helicopter for transport to a trauma center with serious injuries. The patient survived, which is a testament to the work of the team.
The Gold Medal of Valor is the highest award given for bravery and heroism and is awarded to a public safety official or unit who knowingly placed their lives in peril of death or serious bodily harm while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
Deputy Carrla Querry was presented with the Gold Medal of Valor. During a big thunderstorm that caused power outages, knocked down trees and led to multiple vehicle accidents, a truck caught on fire trapping a male and female inside. Querry was the first on the scene and quickly used her extinguisher to contain the fire. Risking her own life, she broke the windows and with the help of some citizens, they were able to remove the individuals before the truck was engulfed in flames.
