Annual awards ceremony recognizes outstanding police officers, employees
Members of the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Department (PPS) are dedicated to serving the campus with distinction, and National Police Week provided an appropriate opportunity to honor outstanding members of the department.
Kenny Elmore was named Officer of the Year at Friday’s awards ceremony; he also was recognized with a promotion to field training officer. Barbara Brookover received a promotion to telecommunications supervisor; she is the first in the UNC system to achieve this advanced employment level.
Civilian Employee of the Year was Vicki Valenzuela, a receptionist/administrative support associate for the department. Cheryl Thomason received Dispatcher of the Year, and Officer Aaron Wallace received a special commendation. Also, Lt. Sarah Smyre was recognized for obtaining advanced certification; Det. Danielle Albano and Sgt. Lewis Bowman for achieving negotiator and SWAT operator status, respectively; and Capt. Josh Huffman for completing a bachelor’s degree.
Retired criminal justice and criminology professor Paul Friday was the inaugural recipient of the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Department’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Friday, who joined the University in 1992 after 20 years at Western Michigan University, was a long-time member of the Campus Safety and Security Committee. In addition, he was a founder and past chairman of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Drug Free Coalition and a member of the Charlotte Homicide Task Force in 2009. Throughout his nearly 50-year career, he has worked with the community and is known for international research in the areas of delinquency, delinquency prevention, victimology and violence.
As an authority on community policing, Friday lauded the UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety Department for its efforts on campus. He noted that while city and campus police officers receive similar training, being a campus police officer requires a different character and personality. A college campus is the epitome of community policing, added Friday, who explained campus officers must exhibit greater skill and more patience in dealing with University stakeholders – students, faculty, staff, administrators and visitors. Even a relatively minor crime can draw unwanted attention from media and parents, the professor explained.
He noted that results from campus climate surveys gave high marks for the visibility of PPS officers that enhanced a sense of security on campus, and Friday stated he is proud of the department’s pursuit of accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.
In addition to congratulating PPS members, Chief Jeff Baker presented certificates of appreciation to individuals who provided assistance or collaboration on department initiatives. They were Ricky Barnes, an IT project analyst manager in technical operations and planning, business affairs; Kristy DeSantis, assistant director for staff programs and student conduct, housing and residence life; Zach Rutledge, associate director of events and programming, student activity center and venue management; and Karen Westphal, executive assistant, Dean of Students Office. LaMarcus Outing, director of security for Westin Hotels and Resorts, also received a certificate of appreciation for his contributions as a part-time dispatcher.
Photos by Chris Gonyar