Service stars

Public safety personnel honored at banquet

By Julianna Parker

A dozen years ago, there was no mechanism in place to thank those who worked to keep Norman safe.

Walt Terrell remembers talking to a police officer who said that there are many public safety workers in Norman who don't get any recognition.

"Well, why don't we give them some recognition," said Terrell, who is the chairman of the Norman Chamber of Commerce's Crime Stoppers committee.

So the committee organized a public safety awards banquet where members of each of the public safety agencies in Norman are recognized for superb service to the community.

At the 2008-2009 Public Safety Awards Thursday evening at Journey Church, seven awards were given to exceptional workers in public safety fields.

Assistant District Attorney Susan Caswell was honored from the Cleveland County D.A.'s office. District attorney Greg Mashburn said Caswell stood out to receive the award because of the difficult cases she tried in 2008, including three first-degree murder trials.

Caswell, who didn't know until it was announced at the banquet that she had received the award, gave credit to the other public safety workers in the room. She said she couldn't do her job well until after the others did theirs well.

Heather Henderson was honored from the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Joe Lester said Henderson did an excellent job single-handedly managing the warrant division for much of the year.

"Heather Henderson is a true servant," Lester said, and gives a lot to a community that doesn't see her work.

Master Police Officer Jesse Sumner was honored from the Norman Police Department. Chief Phil Cotten said he was praised by his supervisors, who all nominated him for the award. Cotten told of a January incident where Sumner and his K9 partner chased a suspect on foot across a creek repeatedly. The wind chill that night was 7 degrees, but Sumner never complained and eventually caught his man hiding in a bush, Cotten said.

"He's a dedicated employee who certainly deserves the title Officer of the Year," Cotten said.

Sumner thanked Cotten and said he accepted the award on behalf of the whole night shift division 3.

Firefighters Rick Bacon and Keith Nelson both were recognized by the Norman Fire Department. The men are in charge of safety and training at the fire department.

"It's their attitude and commitment to excellence that sets them apart," Chief James Fullingim said.

Bacon said his job is to make sure all the firefighters return home to their families every night.

"It's just our job we hired on to do, and we don't expect this recognition," he said.

Tony Loftis was recognized as the outstanding Norman Regional Health System -- EMSSTAT worker of 2008-2009. He was recognized as one of the finest EMS workers for his professionalism, compassion, hard work and high skill performance, said Dr. Robert Franz, medical director of the hospital's emergency department.

Sgt. John Bishop was recognized from the University of Oklahoma Police Department for increasing productivity and morale among the graveyard shift he led this past year, said Chief Liz Woollen. He infused the other workers on the shift with a greater commitment and excellence, she said.

The Wayne Martin Memorial Award went to the attorneys in the District Attorney's major crimes unit, Susan Caswell, Jennifer Austin, James Siderias and Christy Miller.

Jeannine Baker, Mary Abbott Children's House executive director, said the unit received the award for effectively prosecuting crimes against children. Caswell said the crimes the group prosecutes break her heart, but the unit loves their job and loves protecting the community by prosecuting those who abuse children.

In addition to the awards given to public safety personnel, two scholarships were given to area high school students at the banquet.

Kalen Melton, a senior at Norman North High School, received the Steve Cain Memorial Scholarship. Shannon Hackney, a senior at Purcell High School, received the John Dutch Memorial Scholarship.

Julianna Parker 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com

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