Public Safety Award Winners
JFD Firefighter and JPD Officer Selected
A City firefighter and a City detective have been selected as recipients of The Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce 4th Annual Public Safety Awards during a ceremony held this morning at City Hall. The awards recognize the hard work and dedication of public safety professionals in our community.
Robert Steffee, a Driver Operator II with JFD was selected as the 2013 Firefighter of the Year. A 16 year veteran of the department, Steffee was recognized for his “positive influence on others, encouraging hard work and for opening minds to new, innovative ideas.” (pictured right)
JPD Detective Anthony Ramirez, a JPD Officer since 2007, was honored to receive the 2013 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, which was presented as a joint award with Naval Criminal Investigative Services Special Agent Joshua Lawson, for their work on an 8-month joint investigation. Both detectives painstaking researched months of evidence and reports to link an apprehended subject to multiple crimes committed in the City. (pictured below right)
Other JPD personnel were honored as nominees: Traffic Officer Tony Frazier, Detective Mike Groom, Detective Gary Manning, Officer Jason T. Miller, Officer Robin Wallace, Officer Steve Wells and Officer Donnie Worrell. Telecommunicator Julie Robson was a nominee as a Public Safety Communications Professional.
“We are very proud of their dedication and service to our community and sincerely appreciate the Chamber’s action in recognizing the dedication that all public safety professionals provide to this community” said Chief Mike Yaniero, Director of Public Safety.