The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office Recognizes 2008 Employees of the Month for February

Click here to view photos from the Feb. Awards Ceremony.
Click here for more information about the Sheriff's employee recognition program.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office recognized the six employees of the month and presented five lifesaving awards, as a part of the monthly Sheriff's Meritorious Awards Ceremony last Thursday, February 28. "These officers are examples of the caliber of men and women the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office employs. I am proud to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of each of them at our monthly awards ceremony," said Sheriff John Rutherford.     

Police Officer of the Month ~ sponsored by Burger King; Police Officer Jimmy W. Britt
Officer Britt won the Police Officer of the Month award for the excellent results he provides in Zone 6, Jacksonville's north side. Officer Britt has gone to great lengths to build a relationship with the community that promotes two-way communication and cooperation. One example: Ofc. Britt used his community contacts to help locate and apprehend three auto burglary and auto theft suspects that had been breaking into and stealing cars on Black Hammock Island on April 27, 2007. And on July 6, 2007, Britt helped investigate a home invasion that had occurred the day before. Britt was able to use his relationships with locals in the area to track down one of the suspects.
 
Corrections Officer of the Month~ Sponsored by Coggin Automotive; Corrections Officer Michael S. Henry 
C.O. Henry is the Corrections Officer of the Month because his diligence prevented a dangerous situation for his fellow officers in the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. He was able to locate and remove two homemade weapons from the cell of two inmates at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. This accomplishment was possible because of the corrections officer's tenacity in checking, and rechecking the bunks AND following up on information provided by inmates.                                                            
    
Civilian Employee of the Month~ Sponsored by Solantic; Police Emergency Communications Officer III Joe Fooshee
PECO Fooshee is Feb.'s Civilian of the Month because he can be trusted to handle all types of situations with emergency phone calls or the radio transmissions coming in or out of the Communications Center. On April 19, 2007 Fooshee received a commendation from Cold Case Homicide Sgt.  Jim Parker for the work he did as the Investigative Dispatcher on an officer-involved shooting that occurred at Spring Park & University Blvd. Sgt. Parker stated that he appreciated Joe's "efficient and professional manner in handling the dispatch aspect of the incident."

Reserve Officer of the Month ~ Sponsored by Nimnicht Chevrolet; Reserve Officer Gary Carlson
Gary Carlson is Feb.'s Reserve Officer of the Month because for 29 years he has served the JSO with dedication and distinction. Currently he works in Zone 6 and is a great asset to them as a second officer in patrol. Gary also donates blood two to three times a month to the Florida Georgia Blood Bank to benefit the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Fraternal Order of Police. Gary's donations have directly benefited JSO employees and their families.

Police Supervisor of the Month ~Sponsored by Stein-Mart; Police Sergeant Lonnie J. Mills
Sgt. Mills received the award because of his leadership and the positive results he has provided since assuming responsibility of the Property and Evidence Unit in 2006. Sgt. Mills instituted several innovative techniques that resulted in raising the standards for inventory control and created a positive environment within the Unit. An annual internal audit in September of 2007 earned the Unit a rating of Exceeds Expectations with a less than two percent error rate of inventory.

Corrections Supervisor of the Month ~ Sponsored by Bealls Inc.; Corrections Sergeant Mike Jowers
Corrections Sergeant Mike Jowers is this month's Corrections Supervisor of the Month because of his persistence and his relationship building with inmates, which helped solve a crime at the Montgomery Correctional Center. Because of the excellent intelligence Mike gathered, four inmates were arrested and charged with Battery in a Detention Facility and removed from the MCC.

Lifesaving Awards~ Sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police
Group One
Police Officer Chris L. Kornegay, Zone 3 (Southside) and Detective Latosha M. Agnew, Burglary Unit, received lifesaving awards for pulling Jose Moreno from his burning car after an automobile crash on Nov. 14, 2007 on San Marco Blvd. Mr. Moreno was pinned inside his car and Kornegay and Agnew used fire extinguishers to keep the car fire under control until JFRD could arrive to put the fire out and free the man from the car.                                                        

Group Two
Zone 4 (Westside) Police Officers Frank H. Canaday, David J. Couch and Ryan T. Fraser received lifesaving awards for their efforts in saving the life of Mr. Jeremy Cothren after a car crash on Aug. 15, 2007. Mr. Cothren also wrecked his car and was trapped inside the burning vehicle. The officers had to pull the unconscious driver through the driver's side window of the car.

The mission of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of this community, to preserve the peace and to prevent crime and disorder while constantly guarding personal liberties as prescribed by law.

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