Marietta, Ga. (Oct. 5, 2009) – The Cobb Chamber of Commerce honored Cobb County’s finest today during the Chamber’s annual Public Safety Appreciation breakfast at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
The Chamber presented four awards, the Public Safety Employee of the Year, an Award of Merit, a Medal of Valor and the Distinguished Achievement Award. The event kicked off a weeklong community effort Oct. 4-10 to celebrate Public Safety Appreciation Week.
The Cobb Chamber received 17 nominations for recognition of employees from public safety agencies throughout Cobb County, including police, fire, sheriff’s office, campus police, EMS, National Park Service and state patrol. Former professional athlete, business man and Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker was the keynote speaker at the breakfast.
Public Safety Employee of the Year
The Cobb Chamber presented Sergeant Clifton Halten of Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) with the Public Safety Employee of the Year award.
Sergeant Halten has served four years in public safety with the SPSU Police Department, after serving in Iraq as an active duty United States Marine.
Within the SPSU Police Department, Sergeant Halten has submitted more suggestions for departmental improvements than any other member of their department. Several of these suggestions have been adopted and implemented to the benefit of the University and its community.
One of his major accomplishments has been decreasing the amount of illegal underage alcohol consumption. In a short period of time, by using effective campus community contacts and proactive patrol practices, Sergeant Halten has been able to successfully reduce underage alcohol use to an almost non-existent level.
Sergeant Halten also has saved lives through his quick thinking and ingenuity when citizens needed his assistance. On March 28, Sergeant Halten was traveling on South Marietta Parkway and noticed a distraught woman screaming frantically; when he pulled up to the scene he discovered that her husband was experiencing a heart attack. The victim’s wife had already called an ambulance, but both the victim and his wife were from Florida, and were unable to inform 911 of their exact location.
Sergeant Halten quickly apprised 911 of their position. Sensing the critical time constraints of the situation, Sergeant Halten directed another SPSU police officer to escort the arriving ambulance to the victim’s exact location, preventing any possibility of further delay for much needed medical assistance.
On April 25, Halten responded to an injured person call at a residence apartment. Upon arrival he noticed a large amount of blood in the hallway leading to an apartment. Once inside the apartment, Halten discovered the victim slouched in the bathtub with a large laceration to his right arm. Knowing that the drastic blood loss was life threatening and it needed to be stopped immediately, Sergeant Halten cleverly used his baton to fashion an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding until emergency
medical personnel arrived. Halten’s responsiveness and fast actions saved the lives of these two citizens.
Sergeant Halten’s steadfast enthusiasm to excel in any challenge he faces serves as a constant inspiration to all his colleagues and co-workers.
The Medal of Valor
The Cobb Chamber presented the Medal of Valor to Hansell “Junior” Walraven of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. The Medal of Valor recognizes a person for an act of bravery that has clearly placed the individual in a life-threatening situation that is above and beyond the call of duty.
Major Hansell “Junior” Walraven has worked for the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office for 26 years. In May, Major Walraven was working a part-time job as a security officer for WellStar Cobb Hospital when he encountered an armed individual in the emergency room parking lot.
Major Walraven’s calm demeanor and firm command of the situation permitted him to eventually persuade the suspect to surrender his weapon and be taken into custody without further incident. Major Walraven’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the law enforcement profession in that he protected the public and effectively ended a potentially life threatening incident without injury to himself, the suspect or citizens.
Award of Merit
The Cobb Chamber presented the Award of Merit to Engineer Grant Pearson of the Marietta Fire Department. The Award of Merit recognizes an individual for an act of courage, demonstrating genuine care and concern for the citizens of the community and going above and beyond the call of duty, often resulting in a life being saved.
After completing a 24 hour shift at Marietta Fire Station 51, Engineer Pearson left work in for some much deserved time off. On his way home he noticed a woman driving the wrong way down a one way street near the Marietta Square. With many innocent lives at risk he knew he needed to take a quick action and stop the woman. Putting his own life in harm’s way, he followed the woman until she stopped at a traffic light. At that point, he was able to approach the car on foot and ask if he could
be of assistance. She told him she could not find her way home, and Pearson offered to help her.
He found her address via her driver’s license and with the use of his personal GPS device, he lead her back to her home several miles away. He stayed for a few hours to be sure she was comfortable and safe.
Distinguished Achievement
The Cobb Chamber presented the Distinguished Achievement award to Major Tom O’Connor of the Cobb County Sheriff’s Office. The Distinguished Achievement Award honors someone whose outstanding service and performance often goes unnoticed, yet exceeds the realm of their job.
Various community programs, such as volunteering to coach different youth sports, have taken a large portion of Major O’Connor’s spare time and energy over the past 20 years. He is also the Supervisor liaison for three local high schools, connecting them with the Sheriff’s Office and a School Resource Officer.
As a cancer survivor, Major O’Connor is known for his determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, which grew during his battle with Leukemia. O’Connor along with supporters helped organize “Friends of Tom O’Connor,” which is a nonprofit organization established to raise funds and promote awareness for cancer research and patients with the American Cancer Society. Major Tom O’Connor is a tremendous leader as he leads by example.
The breakfast was sponsored by Cobb EMC and Cousins Properties.
A committee of community, business and public safety leaders planned the breakfast and appreciation week. Cobb County Sheriff's Office Colonel Milton Beck was the chairman of the Cobb Chamber’s Public Safety Committee.
The Cobb Chamber of Commerce represents Cobb County’s diverse, dynamic business community. The Cobb Chamber is a member-supported business organization working to maintain a healthy economy by bringing business and industry to the area, helping established firms grow and building the community through outreach and service.
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