FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 15, 2007

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409

 

HIGHWAY PATROL COLONEL RUSSELL F. ROARK RECEIVES STROM THURMOND AWARD

 

COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces that Colonel Russell F. Roark was honored Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office as the state recipient of the 2006 Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement. These awards are presented by the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, Office of the United States Attorney.

 

Colonel Roark was recognized Friday at a luncheon at the Fort Jackson Officers’ Club. Colonel Roark was honored along with Columbia Police Chief Dean Crisp Jr. as the city recipient; York County Sheriff Bruce M. Bryant as the county recipient; Resident Agent in Charge C.J. Hyman from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives from the federal level.

 

“Colonel Roark has proved himself an outstanding and highly capable administrator, leading the Highway Patrol through some difficult budget times while creatively using resources to reduce fatalities and make our state safer. He is most deserving of this prestigious recognition,” said SCDPS Director James K. Schweitzer.

 

Colonel Roark has been with the Highway Patrol for 24 years beginning in Sumter County. His tenure as commander has focused heavily on the wise use of resources, partnering and connecting troopers to the citizens they serve. He believes strongly that proactive enforcement and safety education go hand-in-hand.

 

Under Colonel Roark’s tenure, the Highway Patrol has become a leader in the nation in highway safety and results-oriented enforcement. His enforcement and safety campaigns have been honored through multiple awards and emulated by other law enforcement agencies.

 

Colonel Roark, alongside DPS Director James Schweitzer, has worked diligently with the Governor and State Legislature to create a better and safer working environment for troopers. One area that has remained consistently high on the colonel’s list of priorities has been bringing South Carolina troopers’ salaries in line with the Southeastern average and the creation of a career path. He has worked vigorously to ensure budget cuts and other forces did not compromise troopers’ safety. His first priority has been ensuring that they have the best equipment and vehicles to do their jobs.

 

Roark has developed excellent working relationships with other local and state agencies by partnering to bolster enforcement and safety education resources. For example, the Highway Patrol has partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to conduct aerial enforcement in high fatality areas of the state. He has partnered extensively with the Department of Transportation to strengthen work zone safety, median barrier enforcement and DUI enforcement.

 

In addition to smart use of enforcement resources, Colonel Roark has created a team of troopers dedicated to educating the public and media about highway safety. Through grant funding, the Highway Patrol created a powerful Highway Safety Curriculum that standardized the “safety” message being shown throughout the state. The curriculum includes a safety/informational presentation created in Spanish for the Hispanic community.

 

While he is a strong administrator, he prides himself in being accessible and compassionate to those he serves. Colonel Roark has maintained close ties to fallen troopers’ families. Additionally, he has created programs to serve families who have lost a loved one in a motor vehicle collision.  

  

The Union native is a graduate of Union High School, the FBI Academy and the South Carolina Executive Institute. Colonel Roark will soon complete his bachelor’s degree from St. Leo University. Colonel Roark resides in Sumter with his wife Sandi, and son, Connor.