The Covington Police Department (CPD) had plenty to celebrate in 2016 and did so Tuesday recognizing several officers for their efforts in the line of duty since January.
Among awards handed out by CPD Chief Stacey Cotton at the department’s annual awards banquet were the Officer of the Year and Police Who Care “Making a Difference” honors. Receiving the two prestigious recognitions was Assistant Chief Almond Turner.
Turner, who has spent 45 years with the CPD, recently announced that he would retire in 2017.
“My career with the Covington Police Department has indeed been great,” Turner said. “I never envisioned that I would work for the department as long as I have. However, our plans are not God’s.”
The CPD used Tuesday’s banquet to celebrate Turner’s 2016 and previous 45 years.
“The awards banquet is the police department’s opportunity to celebrate all of the good work the officers and staff do throughout the year,” Turner said. “This year was a milestone year as we also were able to recognize Assistant Chief Turner’s 45 year career.”
Turner was able to thank his wife, mother and fellow police officers who have worked with him throughout 2/3 of his life.
“We are just like a big family,” Turner said. “It has been a great honor to have served and protected the citizens of Covington where I have developed so many relationships over the years.”
During the banquet other officers were also recognized for their work in 2016.
Departmental Commendation: The members of “D” Team, Sergeant Christopher Cain, Sergeant Brent Fuesting, Officer Hayward DeRouen, Officer Robert Yarbrough, Officer Slade McCullough, and Officer George Smith IV distinguished themselves by outstanding service.
Sergeant Cain led his team in the search and apprehension of four murder suspects. One officer alertly recognized a vehicle which matched the description of a stolen vehicle that was involved in a homicide in Newton County the previous night. Following a brief chase the vehicle was stopped and all of the suspects exited and ran into the wooded area of Turner Lake Park. The diligent search and pursuit by the officers resulted in all four suspects being located.
Meritorious Service Award: Lieutenant Charles Groover and Officer Lloyd Capps distinguished themselves by performing lifesaving action as Officers of the Covington Police Department.
Officer Capps and Lt Charles Groover responded to Food Depot for a customer who had collapsed on the sidewalk from an apparent heart attack. Both Officers arrived and found a nurse giving CPR to a 65 year old male who was unconscious and not breathing. Officer Capps and Lieutenant Groover employed the AED on the patient. After several minutes of AED shocks and chest compressions, the man was revived to conscious and alert status. He was transported to Piedmont Hospital because of the quick actions and teamwork of Officer Capps and Lieutenant Groover.
Meritorious Service Award: Officer William Swann, Officer Keldrick Hunter, and Officer George Smith IV distinguished themselves by performing lifesaving action as officers of the Covington Police Department.
These officers after responded to a domestic fight pursued a suspect on foot into the woods. Officers then found the suspect with a large deep laceration on his left arm which was bleeding heavily. Working as a team, the officers applied pressure and put a tourniquet on the wound to control the bleeding. Medical personnel at Piedmont and Grady Hospital stated that if the suspect had not been given immediate first aid upon contact, he would have bled to death. The suspect received over 100 stitches in his arm. He was very thankful to the officers when he had subsequent contact with them.
Departmental Commendation: Captain Julian Malcom and Lieutenant Mark Jones distinguished themselves by outstanding service as leaders by example in the CPD.
Captain Malcom and Lieutenant Jones responded to the call from a person who was trying to keep her depressed 84-year-old mother-in-law from harming herself. The woman and her husband were able to get her mother-in-law to the hospital but could not get her out of the car. Captain Malcom and Lieutenant Jones responded immediately and after talking with the patient for approximately one hour, they convinced her to go into the hospital to get checked out. Captain Malcom promised her that he would not leave her until she was comfortable with him leaving. He stayed until after 10 p.m. that night. The patient received treatment at the hospital and the medicine she received turned her totally around and she has been well ever since. Her doctor said that if she had not received medical treatment, she would have been admitted into the hospital and possibly a rehabilitation facility to recover from an infection.
Departmental Commendation: Detective Jerry Roberts distinguished himself by outstanding service as a detective in the CPD. Detective Roberts was able to remove a serial child molester who was wanted in other states off the streets of Covington.
Detective Roberts interviewed the offender and obtained a confession that ensured the prosecution and incarceration of this offender. Detective Roberts’ professional appearance and representation of the CPD was recognized by a Wisconsin District Attorney’s office. He was sent a letter of appreciation for his expert assistance and thorough investigation.
Meritorious Service Award: Officer William Swann distinguished himself by outstanding performance and criminal apprehension as an officer of the Covington Police Department.
Officer Swann remembered and alertly recognized a vehicle which matched the description of a stolen vehicle that was involved in a homicide in Newton County the previous night. Officer Swann alerted other members of his team for backup and attempted to stop the vehicle. Following a brief chase the vehicle was stopped and all of the suspects exited and ran into the wooded area of Turner Lake Park. The diligent search and pursuit by the Officers resulted in all four suspects being located.
Meritorious Service Award: Officer Michael Walden distinguished himself by outstanding performance and criminal apprehension as an officer of the CPD.
Officer Walden responded to a burglary on Spillers Drive where entry was made through a window and several items were stolen from the residence. He pursued an unrelenting investigation where he continued searching for evidence and interviewing witnesses for information about the perpetrators. His hard work and persistence paid off when he arrested the three suspects.
Meritorious Service Award: Officer Michael Walden distinguished himself by outstanding performance and criminal apprehension as an officer of the CPD.
On Dec. 8, 2015, CPD officers responded to City Pond Road in reference to a human skull being found in the woods by a surveyor. While detectives were still working the crime scene, Officer Walden contacted detectives to inform them of a call that he responded to in 2011. The call was in reference to an abandoned car at a local hotel. It developed into being a lead to a child molester wanted by the FBI. The FBI was contacted that day but the suspect was not found. Fast forward to 2015 and the human remains being found, Officer Walden was able to recall the 2011 call out of the thousand or more calls he had answered since then. He went further and researched the Police Department’s database and was able to find the call and a BOLO by the FBI in which the suspect, David Sheffield was pictured. From the photographs detectives were able to match items that were found at the crime scene in the woods. With the information that we had from the BOLO and the Medical Examiner at the GBI, we were able to positively identify the human remains as being David Sheffield in less than a week.
Other awards:
Employee of the Year, Criminal Investigations Department – Detective Jeff Bruno;
Employee of the Year, Support Services – Sherica Tate;
Patrol Division - Officer Anthony Walden;
Rookie of the Year – Officer Steve Swann.
P.T. Awards (perfect score) go to Det. Bruno, Officer Matt Cooper, Lt. Al Miller, Det. Jerry Lee Roberts, Sgt. Gene Nuqui, Officer Chad Payne, officer IV Smith, Kristi Greco.
Firearms Award, 100 club: Capt. Phillip Bradford, Officer Matt Cooper, Nuqui, Officer Daniel Digby, Sgt. Victor Partee, Roberts, Swann, Officer Pat Womack.
Highest Shoot Average: Bradford.
Top Gun: Digby.
