Sheriff's Office recognizes promotions, award recipients
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office spent the night of Thursday, Sept. 28, recognizing law enforcement officers who received promotions or awards during the last calendar year.
At the sheriff's office's annual awards and promotions banquet, the officers who were promoted or received another form of recognition in the last year were recognized in front of family, community members and fellow officers before enjoying a dinner and time of fellowship at New Hope Presbyterian Church.
Following the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, Sheriff John Samaniego swore in five new deputy sheriffs — deputies Robin Turner, Parris Wiggins, Ben Jacks, Jeff Bahr and Brad Bush. He then swore in new corrections officers Matt Costlow, Bob Alston, Aaron Hughes, Aaron Lawley, Crystal Motley, Jacob Oliver, Tyler Posten, Landon Pickett and Kelly Stephens.
Officers who received promotions in the last year were also recognized, including Capt. Mike Dehart, Lt. Josh Forrest, Lt. Jason Myrick, Sgt. Stan Oliver, Sgt. Deon Tilley and Sgt. Stu Jones.
Ten individuals were also recognized for their exemplary service.
Deputy Derek Dixon received the highest honor the Sheriff's Office bestows, the Medal of Honor, for his lifesaving actions in January 2016. Dixon responded to a call about a car that had driven off the roadway and into a ravine, and upon arriving to the scene of the crash, saw a car at the bottom of an embankment, appearing to be on fire.
"Believing someone was inside the burning vehicle, and without hesitation, Dixon started down the steep face of the mountainside toward the car," said Capt. Mike Dehart, as Dixon was recognized.
Dixon removed the unconscious driver from the car, and after treatment on scene and being airlifted to a local hospital, she survived.
"Acting in a professional manner, he [Dixon] demonstrated exceptional courage, disregarded the risk of serious injury to himself, places the life of a stranger above his own safety, and in doing so undoubtedly saved her life," Dehart said.
Other award recipients included:
- Sgt. Jayme Moore, receiving the Lifesaving Award, for his actions on March 30, 2014, when he administered CPR on an individual, which according to paramedics who arrived on scene, ultimately saved the patient's life.
- Lt. Mark Bishop, receiving the Meritorious Service Award, for his work that led to the sheriff's office's accreditation by the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.
- Deputy James Sellers, receiving the Meritorious Service Award, for his work establishing Camp Journey.
- Lt. Jason Myrick, receiving the Meritorious Service Award, for his work on the Alabama Tactical Officers Association board.
- Deputy David Morrow, receiving the Sheriff's Award, for his service to the Shelby County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 41.
- Sgt. Deon Tilley, receiving the Sheriff's Award, for his work with Compact 2020.
- Investigator Heather Parramore, receiving the Sheriff's Award, for her work in a February 2016 case involving the rape of a child less than 16 years old. In addition to serving as an investigator on the case, Parramore helped arrange a baby goods donation drive for the victim, who was 33 weeks pregnant at the time of the investigation.
- Deputy Terry Gowers, receiving the Sheriff's Award, for his aim to constantly seek improvement through continued education and his professionalism, experience and kind demeanor.
- Former COP director Jim Thornton, receiving the Sheriff's Award, for his work with the Chelsea Citizen Observer Patrol.