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“That’s a day when we honor the fallen safety forces - officers, not just police, but fire as well, Clark County Sheriff’s deputies and state troopers,” said Springfield chief of police Lee Graf.
Representatives from local law enforcement agencies read out 25 names of men and women at noon Friday who lost their lives in service to the community since the 18th century.
Springfield Police also used the day to give out awards to officers and community members. It awarded 11 on Friday.
“The Life Saving awards are for officers in their actions who have saved a life of a citizen or citizens on the street,” Graf said. “The Meritorious Service awards are for officers who kind of go a little above and beyond interactions to aid the division or the community. Actually we awarded the detectives that helped break the Prentiss Hare case.”
Hare, a former Springfield man, pleaded guilty May 3 to the 2015 homicide of Tiffany Chambers.
The division also gave the Chief’s Commendation award to Clark State Community College President Dr. Jo Alice Blondin. It lauded the school’s police academy and criminal justice program.
Chief Graf said the day helps them communicate there are great things going on with officers in the community and nationwide.
“There have been incidents nationally where police have been cast in maybe a negative light with use of force and things like that,” Graf said. “But, what citizens have to remember is that there are thousands of police officers throughout the United States that are out there everyday in the streets doing a good job, coming when someone picks up the phone and calls 911 and they are there to protect lives and protect people’s property.”
Below is the list of award recipients.
Life Saving Award – Officer Rick Corey, Officer Seth Cosby, Officer Doug Devore, Officer Thomas Potter, Officer Justin Allender, and Officer Kyle Barger
Meritorious Service Award – Officer Jimmy Cosby, Detectives Jamie McCutcheon, Detective Shelly Pergram and Officer Zach Massie
Chief’s Commendation Award – Dr. Jo Alice Blondin
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