Eleven University police, security and dispatch officers were sworn in and another four were honored recently at a Department of Public Safety (DPS) graduation and awards ceremony. Two contract security guards also received awards.
Distinguished Service Citations were presented Aug. 12 to security officer Melissa J. Bolyard and police officer Gerald D. Steiner. Their quick thinking and action saved the life of a 36-year-old man whose clothes had caught on fire at about 1:45 a.m. May 18 near the Dental Building. The victim received second and third degree burns over about 20 percent of his body.
The citation is awarded “when an officer performs an act in the line of duty knowingly endangering her/his life or exposing herself/himself to serious injury, and when the nature of the action taken saves a life, prevents a serious crime, or secures the arrest of the suspect of a serious crime.”
State Security guards James S. Taylor and Darell D. Brooks received the Citizen’s Public Safety Award for Heroism/Valor for the same incident. Taylor and Brooks, who came upon the victim first, radioed for assistance and attempted to extinguish the flames.
Lts. Vernon Baisden and Joseph G. Piersante received the Director’s Citation, recognizing outstanding service to the department. Baisden and Piersante developed and implemented a safety enhancement program to handle special Univer-sity events, resulting in heightened safety awareness and a reduction in serious incidents at such events as parties and football games.
Sandra G. Hofman-Kingston, Michael D. Kelley, Maureen A. Knittel, Randall L. Mince and Steiner were promoted from security officers to police officers.
Security officers taking the oath of office were Brian T. Daniels, David C. Gates, Robert C. Pratt and Todd D. Thie. Two public safety dispatch officers, Jill A. Brown and Cynthia L. Wooster, also took the oath of office.
