FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2003
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
DPS RECOGNIZES OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES FOR 2002
COLUMBIA - The South Carolina Department of Public Safety Director Boykin Rose recently presented 20 DPS employees, including both civilian and law enforcement, with awards for exceptional service to the agency in 2002.
Director’s Award:
This is the top award at the agency, given to an individual/s who the director thinks has made an outstanding contribution to the agency as a whole. This year’s award went to five DPS civilian employees for their leadership and contributions in managing resources and communicating effectively with the public and DPS employees during the budget shortfall.
This year’s winners include:
Don Royal of Lexington, Office of Financial Services
Gene Matthews of Columbia, Office of General Counsel
Sid Gaulden of West Columbia, Office of Executive Affairs
Steven Lake of Prosperity, Office of Audit, Accreditation and Inspections
Marcia Adams of Irmo, Division of Motor Vehicles
Equal Opportunity Award:
Captain Nick Moore of Columbia, State Transport Police
The EEO Award goes to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the Equal Opportunity program at DPS through leadership, training, managing, recruiting or any activities that enhance employment opportunities for women and minorities. Moore has served as STP’s training, employment and supply coordinator by ensuring that basic training is planned and implemented for all sworn and non-sworn personnel and assisting with recruiting and hiring of entry-level applicants. He sees to it that all applicants are treated equally and has completed a number of courses to enhance his human resources skills, including recruiting and interviewing.
Commissioned Officer of the Year:
Corporal John D. Price of Lyman, State Transport Police
This award recognizes outstanding professional achievement by a DPS law enforcement officer. Price supervises the State Transport Police STAR (Strategic Traffic Alcohol Radar) Unit and has contributed to its expanding role to include criminal interdiction and the development of inter-agency partnerships. Drug and alcohol arrests within the STAR Unit increased dramatically in 2002 with notable seizures of U.S. dollars and drugs. Price also has additional duties as project coordinator for STP’s Narcotic Detector Dogs Grant. Under his leadership, the STAR Unit participates in an agreement with U.S. Customs, which has led to numerous cases resulting in arrests, convictions and proceeds from the sale of vehicles involved. Along with his many achievements, he was named South Carolina Officer of the Year in 2000 for his heroic actions in attempting to save the life of a man in a burning building.
Bureau of Protective Services Officer of the Year:
Corporal Marc Skipper of Lexington
This award goes to a BPS Officer who has made a special contribution or has excelled in the performance of his or her job duties. This year’s BPS Officer of the Year has distinguished himself as dependable, fair-minded and an example of carrying joy into job performance. Skipper, who has been with BPS since 1994, was quickly promoted from the State House to what is now known as the COPS assignment. COPS stands for Community Oriented Policing, which is a very hands on, face-to-face interactive form of policing that prompts officers to have high visibility interaction within the community they serve. Because of Skipper’s ability to develop a good rapport with the Legislature, COPS has become a fully functional assignment and remains an active post. He was transferred to the Governor’s Mansion and promoted to Corporal. He again established the ever-important working relationships with the Governor and his family, staff and officers. He is considered a leader among his fellow officers and was of great help during the budget crisis.
State Transport Police Officer of the Year:
Lance Corporal Charles D. Lavender of Walterboro
This award goes to an STP Officer who has made a special contribution or excelled in his or her job performance. Lavender is assigned to the Motor Carrier Compliance Unit, which was created to conduct compliance reviews on motor carriers, hazardous material shippers, packaging manufacturers and investigations on transportation incidents involving hazardous materials. He has advanced training in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Hazardous Material and Hazardous Waste Regulations. Lavender is a DPS Criminal Justice Academy certified instructor, an associate staff instructor for the National Training Center and the Transportation Safety Institute. He was selected to serve as a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Cargo Tank and Hazardous Material Technical Assistant Group, which monitors the safety and regulatory issues involving cargo tank manufacturers and testing facilities, as well as the safe transportation of hazardous materials. This group plays a key role in identifying problem areas and making recommendations for changes in the Federal Hazardous Material Regulations. Lavender devotes a great amount of time conducting education and training to enforcement officers around the country, as well as the transportation industry. He routinely works with various state and federal agencies. His recent performance has resulted in discovering more than 600 violations -- resulting in four enforcement cases being made against motor carriers, shippers, and testing facilities. These cases have resulted in substantial penalties and numerous violations referred to other jurisdictions. He has 21 years of law enforcement experience, nine dedicated to enforcement of the Federal Motor Carrier and Hazardous Material Regulations.
Criminal Justice Academy Instructor of the Year:
James L. Graham III of West Columbia
The Criminal Justice Academy Instructor of the Year Award goes to an instructor whose employment is marked by distinguished service and a commitment to excel and improve the operations of the division and the agency. Graham is an advanced training instructor, teaching in the Investigations and Forensics Unit specializing in Drug Enforcement and Criminal Investigations. With the high demand, additional training has been added to an already full schedule. Among his many accomplishments are the revision of the basic detective class and the creation of three Internet training sites, two training CD-ROMs, and three tele-training programs. He obtained NRA certification as a Tactical Handgun Instructor and a Simulation Training Instructor. He assisted with investigations involving technical surveillance equipment and conducted in-service training in Advanced Criminal Enforcement and Drug Identification Law for magistrates and judges. Graham also conducted two interactive Distance Learning grant classes on Drug Identification and Criminal Gangs. He co-wrote and was project director for a $125,000 federal grant to purchase a mobile surveillance platform in support of DPS investigations and Highway Safety.
Division of Motor Vehicles Employee of the Year:
Annie L. Phelps of Columbia
Phelps, who joined the DMV in 1979, currently serves as DMV Procedures and Compliance Administrator and oversees the Driver Records Section, Financial Responsibility section, the DMV Call Center, Alternative Media Section, International Affairs Unit and the Compliance, Safety and Inspection Unit. During Project Phoenix, her sections were short-staffed, resulting in backlogs for nearly every area. With her continued support and efforts to create an atmosphere of teamwork, backlogs were reduced and an acceptable level of production has been maintained. She was also instrumental in developing procedures and requirements for non-U.S. citizens.
Department of Public Safety Employee of the Year:
Christine Inabinet of Irmo, Office of Financial Services/General Accounting
The DPS Employee of the Year Award goes to a noncommissioned employee who is characterized by excelling in the performance of job duties, serving as a role model, and striving to improve the operations of his or her department and ultimately the Agency. Inabinet is a Fiscal Analyst in Financial Services General Accounting. She has displayed superior performance during tough budget times. She has taken on the additional responsibilities after a staff reduction. Inabinet, working with budget figures in the hundreds of millions and handling thousands of transactions, managed to keep accounts balanced at the end of the fiscal year. Along with numerous other financial transactions and reconciliations that are accomplished error-free, she consistently demonstrates professionalism and a positive, upbeat approach.
Troopers of the Year by Troop:
South Carolina Trooper of the Year from Troop 6:
Trooper First Class Wilbert C. Wilks of North Charleston
Shortly after joining the Highway Patrol in the fall of 2000, Wilks grasped the responsibilities of a state trooper and began to excel in all areas of the job. Wilks was seriously injured while investigating an accident in May 2001 on I-26. He remained in intensive care for months and, based on conversations with his physicians, the likelihood of his working again was dim. His recovery was something short of a miracle, as he gradually began to gain his strength and with extensive therapy was able to walk. He was already looking to the future and returned to assist his Troop to perform light office duties. He continued to work diligently to regain his strength with the hope of returning to his full duties. In January 2002, Wilks returned to his duties and friends in Troop 6. Most recently, after being flagged down by four girls who ran from a burning house, he entered the burning building to ensure no one else was inside and extinguished the fire.
Troop 1:
Lance Corporal Billy K. Floyd Jr. of Turbeville
The Troop One nominee has distinguished himself through his dedication to the agency and the performance of his duties. Floyd began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1997. Since then, he has excelled in all areas of his responsibilities and is always eager to assist fellow troopers and provide guidance to the newer troopers -- whatever it takes to accomplish the goals. Just one example occurred in May of 2002 when he was called to a rest stop on I-95 where a Florida couple had stopped. The gentleman was robbed at gunpoint by two males as he entered the restroom. This trooper worked extensively in the investigation and spent countless hours running down leads while maintaining his regular duties. The two suspects were apprehended without incident as a result of his efforts.
Troop 2:
Trooper First Class James C. Rikard of Saluda
The Trooper of the Year nominee from Troop Two served for two years as a deputy sheriff with the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office before becoming a trooper. While assigned to Greenwood County, Rikard attempted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by two men for disregarding a traffic signal. The driver turned into a motel parking lot and the occupants attempted to flee on foot. The officer apprehended one of the men. An inventory of the vehicle revealed nearly $30,000 in cash -- the largest sum of money ever confiscated by Troop Two personnel. This officer has accomplished much in his three years including multiple awards, completing Officer Survival School and becoming a MAIT Associate. He is a child safety seat technician, a member of Troop Two’s physical fitness team and a member of Troop Two’s multi-agency enforcement team.
Troop 3:
Senior Trooper Jeremy T. Cooper of Inman
Troop Three’s nominee joined the Highway Patrol in 1998. He has since demonstrated the Patrol’s motto of Courtesy, Efficiency and Service” -- often going above and beyond the call of duty to assist the community, fellow officers and his supervisors. He has received extensive training as a member of the “A” Civil Emergency Response Team, which responds to trouble spots in South Carolina at a moment’s notice. He is highly motivated and displays the determination and energy to anticipate needs and overcome obstacles. He has earned an excellent reputation in his community and has given safety talks to various organizations.
Troop 4:
Corporal Steven Mueller of Gaffney
The nominee from Troop Four is a 12-year veteran and has been assigned to Cherokee County throughout his career. Mueller is a role model for new troopers, as well as his peers. He was recently awarded the Solicitor’s Award for Law Enforcement Excellence by Seventh Circuit Solicitor Trey Gowdy. He was selected by a committee of law enforcement professionals from all local and state law enforcement agencies in the county as the top Cherokee County “Cop” for 2002. He was honored for his work, including being a key witness in high profile criminal cases this year, which resulted in sending two armed robbers and a felony DUI suspect to jail. He was also recognized for his heroic actions on July 2, 2002. He was able to convince a suicidal individual not to jump off a major overpass at I-85 and U.S. 29 after an hour of talk and encouragement. He not only saved a life but averted what could have been major traffic problems and/or accidents on two major highways.
Troop 5:
Trooper First Class Henry M. Morrell III of Darlington County
On March 10, 2002, Troop Five’s nominee was on duty in Darlington County. After receiving information of a possible kidnapping of a mother and her young daughter, he proceeded in the direction of the location of the suspect’s vehicle. The trooper attempted a felony car stop after observing a vehicle matching the description. The officer began pursuit after the driver increased speed in an attempt to flee. Morrell provided ongoing information and assisted in guiding other officers into a support position. Once support was in place, he initiated a felony car stop, assisted in the apprehension of the suspect, and safeguarded the child kidnap victim. He called for medical assistance after he discovered the adult victim had severe injuries. The apprehended suspect was later charged with two counts of kidnapping and one count of murder. The woman died as a result of stab wounds. This trooper’s account of the actions of the suspects during the pursuit was instrumental in the suspect being convicted on all charges. His initiative, professionalism, courage and skill in this highly dangerous situation not only resulted in the apprehension of the suspects but quite possibly saved the life of the kidnapped child.
Troop 6 (see Trooper of the Year above)
Troop 7:
Senior Trooper Franklin M. McCarty of Calhoun County
The Troop Seven Trooper of the Year started his law enforcement career with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department in 1990. He joined the Highway Patrol in 1998 and was assigned to Calhoun County. He quickly matured and developed into a valuable asset to the Troop. He operates an unmarked vehicle and has been a member of the Operation STOP special enforcement Team since its creation. Along with being dedicated and maintaining a solid consistent record in enforcement duties, he is courteous and conscientious in relating to the public. His devotion to duty and attention to detail are outstanding and his enthusiasm is inspiring to others.
ACE Team:
Lance Corporal Russell H. Brown of Mt. Pleasant
Since being transferred to the ACE Team only a year ago and assigned to the Canine Unit, Brown and his new partner, Sky, have made several significant contributions to the team. His efforts during his first year with the ACE Team have resulted in removing narcotics worth more than $33 million in street value from society, as well as confiscating illegal weapons, capturing fugitives, and recovering stolen vehicles (specifics on ACE team members are not released to the media in the interest of the officer’s safety).
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