The Board of Education Police Department honored campus police officers for years of service and promotions Wednesday, April 7, at the Yamacraw Performing Arts Center at Garrison School for the Arts. Over 40 officers and other staff received service pins and bars, as well as certificates for their accomplishments in service to the students and staff of the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System. Pastor Ricky Temple of Overcoming By Faith delivered the invocation; the keynote address was given by Chief Roy Minter of Savannah Police Department. The Ethics Code was administered by the Honorable Gregory V. Sapp, Chief Judge, State Court of Chatham County.
Two awards were presented for outstanding service and leadership. Coach Tim Jordan was recognized for his leadership and dedication to his players with an award honoring his 500th win as a high school basketball coach. Chief of the BOE PD Terry Enoch said “Although this special recognition award commemorates a milestone of 500 career coaching wins, the real winners are the thousands of youths you have invested in and impacted in our community! The reward is not in the wins or loses, but the journey to get to our destination."
Enoch also presented the 2021 Leadership Award to Kurt Hetager, Chief Public Affairs and Administrative Services Officer for SCCPSS. This award is given annually to honor persons who are making significant contributions to the community or organization through their time, actions, talents, and dedication. It is a prestigious honor that serves to recognize the best of the best within our ranks and community. Some of our past award recipients are SCCPSS Deputy Superintendent Vanessa Miller-Kaigler, Former SPD Chief Jack Lumpkin, and past SCCPSS Board-member and Retired Chief Larry Lower. “What set Mr. Hetager apart from other candidates was his ability to serve as an excellent collaborator, working effectively with others to produce positive results," said Enoch. “He serves in the role of risk communications, providing the right information, at the right time, to the right audience, so that it triggers the right action."
Additional awards presented include:
2021 Crossing Guard of the Year – Miriam Lexley
2021 Civilian of the Year – Communications Officer Denis Polite
2021 School Safety Officer of the Year – SSO Robert Thomas
2021 Officer of the Year – APO James Williams III
2021 Supervisor of the Year – Cpl. Lisa Darby
Life Saver Award – APO Mike Wiggins
Appointments
Melissa Forbes – School Resource Officer
Edward Gray – School Resource Officer
Gloria Hancock – Crossing Guard
Traci Houston – Security Aide
Tatyana Jackson – School Resource Officer
Lawanda Jones West – Communications Officer
Philip King – School Safety Officer
Ashley Clerk – Clerk II
Andrew Staley – School Resource Officer
Leroy Smalls – School Resource Officer
Promotions
Rhonda Bryant-Elleby – Administrative Sergeant
Denesha Duval – SRO/Investigator
Hector Eide – Administrative Lieutenant
Delvin Guilford – Operations Lieutenant
Pijit Healy – Corporal
Michael Hollis – Corporal
Andre Jenkins – Corporal
Zenobia Williams – SRO/Investigator
See photos from the event HERE.
Watch a video of the ceremony HERE.
