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The sold out event drew a record-breaking crowd of 600 guests and kicked off Public Safety Appreciation Week, a community-wide effort to say “thank you” to the men and women who work to keep Cobb County safe.
Several awards, including the Public Safety Employee of the Year, were presented. Nominations were received from public safety agencies throughout Cobb County, including police, fire, sheriff’s office, campus police and EMS.
Officer Brett Gossett of the Cobb County Police Department was named the 2011 Public Safety Employee of the Year. Gossett’s conduct both on and off duty sets an example for fellow employees to follow, plus he is supportive and works to promote staff morale. He enhances the department’s reputation through work with schools and advocacy groups across Cobb County.
As the shift trainer for active shooter drills, Gossett has helped line up training facilities and developed training for his fellow officers to initiate some of the most challenging contingency plans.
In his law enforcement career, Gossett has performed lifesaving measures. His thorough police work and investigation skills brought about the end of a major local drug operation and he displayed decisive action and calm under pressure in response to a domestic violence call.
A young family man, Gossett is also a dedicated professional who has made cases and performed deeds in his short career that many long-time veterans have not. He is an exemplary model of law-enforcement professional who has already “been there and done that,” working every day to make the community a better place to live.
The Award of Merit recognizes an individual for an act of courage, demonstrating genuine care and concern for the residents of the community and going above and beyond the call of duty, often resulting in a life being saved. There were two deserving recipients this year.
•Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Medical Operations Team.
It is a highly specialized team of nine paramedics and three EMTs who provide medical support for all special operations teams within Cobb County Public Safety. The team operates on a day-to-day basis as an advanced life support engine company within the fire department.
•Cobb County Police Crimes Against Persons-Crimes Against Children Unit.
It has taken the lead in child abuse investigations and has an active role in protocol development and training. It plays a vital role in ensuring collaborative, efficient and effective investigations, as well as successful subsequent case management. It is a member of SafePath’s Prevention Arm and helps advocate for legislation to better protect children.
The Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose service and performance has exceeded the requirements of the job.
For 2011, the Cobb Chamber honored two public safety officials:
•Maj. Cliff Kelker, Marietta Police Department.
•Officer Nicholas Leone, Cobb County (pictured)
Police Department. Leone, who joined in 2003, was commended during his first precienct assignment with recovering more stolen autos in one year than any other officer in the history of the department.
As a founding member of the Violent Incident Prevention and Early Response Unit, he leads it in felony arrests.
The Medal of Valor is the highest award recognizing an individual for an act of bravery in a life-threatening situation. The award is only presented when a deserving candidate is found.
This year the Medal of Valor was presented to Patrol Lt. Cliff Yeager of Southern Polytechnic State University.
Cobb Recognized by Governor Perdue and International Association of Chiefs of Police for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
Cobb Neighborhood Safety Commission, in partnership with Cobb Public Safety Department Officials, sponsored a series of community conferences and events during 2004 that received recognition by Governor Sonny Perdue and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
The Cobb Homeland Security Conference and Expo was also well received by area businesses, education, religious and civic organizations, and families and citizens alike. Events were held in each of four commission districts; March 19 & 20 at the East Cobb Government Center in District 2, July 31 & August 6 at the South Cobb Recreation Center in District 4, October 1 & 2 at the West Cobb Senior Center in District 1, and November 12 & 13 at the East Cobb Senior Center and Home Depot parking lot on Sandy Plains Rd. in District 3.
"We believe neighborhood safety and homeland security are concerns and responsibilities shared by our wonderful public safety officials and citizens alike. That's the whole purpose behind the NSC - to provided opportunities for public safety and citizens to partner so our community can be as safe and secure as possible", says Ms. Birrell.
Copyright © 2003 Marietta Daily Journal. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Chamber of Commerce honors local officials for dedication to safety
By Michelle Graff Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
ATLANTA - Two police officers solely responsible for saving the lives of others and a man who had dedicated a quarter-century of his life to public safety were among the honorees at the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce's 9th annual Public Safety Appreciation breakfast.
Held Monday at the Cobb Galleria Centre, the breakfast recognizes police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, sheriff's deputies, park rangers, state patrol and 911 operators for their dedication in the field of public safety.
Taking home top honors Monday was Maj. Tony Coker of the Cobb County Police Department, who was named Cobb's Public Safety Employee of the Year. After 25 years of service with the Cobb County Police Department, Coker has done everything from traffic enforcement to the SWAT team to heading the detective division. As executive officer to Cobb County Public Safety Director Mickey Lloyd, Coker now shoulders some of the responsibilities for the county's homeland security. In an interview after the breakfast on Monday, he said his biggest concern with homeland security in Cobb is not preparedness but advising the public of how prepared the county actually is.
"Cobb is a very well prepared county but our biggest challenge is making the community aware of that," Coker said. Coker, 49, lives in Kennesaw.
He and his wife, Phyllis, a former police officer and EMT who now works as a nurse at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, have three children, ages 16 to 29. Ms. Coker said she was proud to see her husband win the honor of public safety officer of the year. "There's so many good people that were nominated that were deserving," Ms. Coker said.
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue served as guest speaker at Monday's breakfast, which marked the kick0off to the chamber's Public Safety Appreciation Week that began Monday and goes through Oct. 12. In his speech, Perdue said that the increased appreciation for public safety officials following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 was long overdue. "I think it was high time," he said. He said since 9/11, the state of Georgia has received about $47 million in homeland security funding, the majority of which has been passed on to local public safety offices, which will be the first responders in any homeland security situation.
Also honored at Monday's breakfast were Sgt. Bobby McGee of the Cobb County Police Department and officer Kenneth Owens of the Smyrna Police Department.
Both received the Chamber's Awards of Merit for saving the lives of two people in separate suicide attempts. In November, the 39-year-old McGee responded to a call of a man attempting to take his own life by jumping off the portion of South Cobb Drive that spans the Chattahoochee River. McGee, of Acworth, said he talked to the man for about 5-6 minutes, before finally convincing him to back down off the ledge. This is not the first time the chamber has recognized McGee's efforts as a police officer. Last year, McGee, who worked at the Hall County Sheriff's Office before coming to Cobb County 12 years ago, received accolades for saving the life of a woman in a similar situation.
"I've been doing this 20 years," he said. "I know how to calm them down, I think."
Owens, a 34-year-old who has worked with the Smyrna Police Department for two years, ran across a similar situation while on routine patrol in March when he spotted a man about to jump off the Spring Road Bridge. Married and the father of three children, the officer risked his own life by wrestling the man over the guardrail and away from the edge of the bridge, even though the man was fighting desperately to jump. Owens' wife, Michelle, said she was so proud when she heard what her husband had done, that she made him bring the videotape made from his patrol car home so the family could watch it. She said she had no idea her husband had such good negotiating skills.
"I watched it and was amazed," she said. "It was a little overwhelming. They (the children) were proud to see their dad save the guy."
The Chamber also recognized three Cobb County programs at Monday's breakfast for their innovative approach to public safety: Drug Treatment Court of Cobb County Superior Court, an alternative to jail time for first-time drug offenders; the Marietta Fire Department's fire extinguisher training aid and Cobb County-based security company Chesley Brown International's Security Advisory Messenger (S.A.M). The S.A.M system notifies employees at shopping centers about important public safety information, such as a missing child or homeland security threat.
Copyright © 2003 Marietta Daily Journal. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Honoring those who take the risks
Special to CobbLine - November 2011
The Cobb Chamber of Commerce honored Cobb County’s finest Oct. 4 during the organization’s annual Public Safety Appreciation breakfast at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
The sold out event drew a record-breaking crowd of 600 guests and kicked off Public Safety Appreciation Week, a community-wide effort to say “thank you” to the men and women who work to keep Cobb County safe.
Several awards, including the Public Safety Employee of the Year, were presented. Nominations were received from public safety agencies throughout Cobb County, including police, fire, sheriff’s office, campus police and EMS.
Public Safety Employee of the Year
Officer Brett Gossett of the Cobb County Police Department was named the 2011 Public Safety Employee of the Year. Gossett’s conduct both on and off duty sets an example for fellow employees to follow, plus he is supportive and works to promote staff morale. He enhances the department’s reputation through work with schools and advocacy groups across Cobb County.
As the shift trainer for active shooter drills, Gossett has helped line up training facilities and developed training for his fellow officers to initiate some of the most challenging contingency plans.
In his law enforcement career, Gossett has performed lifesaving measures. His thorough police work and investigation skills brought about the end of a major local drug operation and he displayed decisive action and calm under pressure in response to a domestic violence call.
A young family man, Gossett is also a dedicated professional who has made cases and performed deeds in his short career that many long-time veterans have not. He is an exemplary model of law-enforcement professional who has already “been there and done that,” working every day to make the community a better place to live.
Award of Merit
The Award of Merit recognizes an individual for an act of courage, demonstrating genuine care and concern for the residents of the community and going above and beyond the call of duty, often resulting in a life being saved. There were two deserving recipients this year.
•Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services Medical Operations Team.
It is a highly specialized team of nine paramedics and three EMTs who provide medical support for all special operations teams within Cobb County Public Safety. The team operates on a day-to-day basis as an advanced life support engine company within the fire department.
•Cobb County Police Crimes Against Persons-Crimes Against Children Unit.
It has taken the lead in child abuse investigations and has an active role in protocol development and training. It plays a vital role in ensuring collaborative, efficient and effective investigations, as well as successful subsequent case management. It is a member of SafePath’s Prevention Arm and helps advocate for legislation to better protect children.
Distinguished Achievement Award
The Distinguished Achievement Award recognizes an individual whose service and performance has exceeded the requirements of the job.
For 2011, the Cobb Chamber honored two public safety officials:
•Maj. Cliff Kelker, Marietta Police Department.
•Officer Nicholas Leone, Cobb County (pictured)
Police Department. Leone, who joined in 2003, was commended during his first precienct assignment with recovering more stolen autos in one year than any other officer in the history of the department.
As a founding member of the Violent Incident Prevention and Early Response Unit, he leads it in felony arrests.
The Medal of Valor
The Medal of Valor is the highest award recognizing an individual for an act of bravery in a life-threatening situation. The award is only presented when a deserving candidate is found.
This year the Medal of Valor was presented to Patrol Lt. Cliff Yeager of Southern Polytechnic State University.
Cobb Recognized by Governor Perdue and International Association of Chiefs of Police for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
Cobb Neighborhood Safety Commission, in partnership with Cobb Public Safety Department Officials, sponsored a series of community conferences and events during 2004 that received recognition by Governor Sonny Perdue and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
The Cobb Homeland Security Conference and Expo was also well received by area businesses, education, religious and civic organizations, and families and citizens alike. Events were held in each of four commission districts; March 19 & 20 at the East Cobb Government Center in District 2, July 31 & August 6 at the South Cobb Recreation Center in District 4, October 1 & 2 at the West Cobb Senior Center in District 1, and November 12 & 13 at the East Cobb Senior Center and Home Depot parking lot on Sandy Plains Rd. in District 3.
JoAnn Birrell, NSC Chairman said, "We wanted to bring the Citizen's Action Guide to life and make other pertinent information regarding neighborhood safety and homeland security accessible to all Cobb citizens." Classes offered at the mini-conferences included Crisis Management Planning, Bomb Threats and Suspicious Packages, Safe Mail Handling and Biological Agents. Expo exhibits for the community at-large were provided by area public safety and public health experts and were numerous and well received by children and adult visitors alike.
"We believe neighborhood safety and homeland security are concerns and responsibilities shared by our wonderful public safety officials and citizens alike. That's the whole purpose behind the NSC - to provided opportunities for public safety and citizens to partner so our community can be as safe and secure as possible", says Ms. Birrell.
Major Tony Coker receives Cobb Chamber Public Safety of the Year award.
Article and photo courtesy of the Marietta Daily Journal.Copyright © 2003 Marietta Daily Journal. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Chamber of Commerce honors local officials for dedication to safety
By Michelle Graff Marietta Daily Journal Staff Writer
ATLANTA - Two police officers solely responsible for saving the lives of others and a man who had dedicated a quarter-century of his life to public safety were among the honorees at the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce's 9th annual Public Safety Appreciation breakfast.
Held Monday at the Cobb Galleria Centre, the breakfast recognizes police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, sheriff's deputies, park rangers, state patrol and 911 operators for their dedication in the field of public safety.
Taking home top honors Monday was Maj. Tony Coker of the Cobb County Police Department, who was named Cobb's Public Safety Employee of the Year. After 25 years of service with the Cobb County Police Department, Coker has done everything from traffic enforcement to the SWAT team to heading the detective division. As executive officer to Cobb County Public Safety Director Mickey Lloyd, Coker now shoulders some of the responsibilities for the county's homeland security. In an interview after the breakfast on Monday, he said his biggest concern with homeland security in Cobb is not preparedness but advising the public of how prepared the county actually is.
"Cobb is a very well prepared county but our biggest challenge is making the community aware of that," Coker said. Coker, 49, lives in Kennesaw.
He and his wife, Phyllis, a former police officer and EMT who now works as a nurse at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, have three children, ages 16 to 29. Ms. Coker said she was proud to see her husband win the honor of public safety officer of the year. "There's so many good people that were nominated that were deserving," Ms. Coker said.
Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue served as guest speaker at Monday's breakfast, which marked the kick0off to the chamber's Public Safety Appreciation Week that began Monday and goes through Oct. 12. In his speech, Perdue said that the increased appreciation for public safety officials following the terrorist attacks of 9/11 was long overdue. "I think it was high time," he said. He said since 9/11, the state of Georgia has received about $47 million in homeland security funding, the majority of which has been passed on to local public safety offices, which will be the first responders in any homeland security situation.
Also honored at Monday's breakfast were Sgt. Bobby McGee of the Cobb County Police Department and officer Kenneth Owens of the Smyrna Police Department.
Both received the Chamber's Awards of Merit for saving the lives of two people in separate suicide attempts. In November, the 39-year-old McGee responded to a call of a man attempting to take his own life by jumping off the portion of South Cobb Drive that spans the Chattahoochee River. McGee, of Acworth, said he talked to the man for about 5-6 minutes, before finally convincing him to back down off the ledge. This is not the first time the chamber has recognized McGee's efforts as a police officer. Last year, McGee, who worked at the Hall County Sheriff's Office before coming to Cobb County 12 years ago, received accolades for saving the life of a woman in a similar situation.
"I've been doing this 20 years," he said. "I know how to calm them down, I think."
Owens, a 34-year-old who has worked with the Smyrna Police Department for two years, ran across a similar situation while on routine patrol in March when he spotted a man about to jump off the Spring Road Bridge. Married and the father of three children, the officer risked his own life by wrestling the man over the guardrail and away from the edge of the bridge, even though the man was fighting desperately to jump. Owens' wife, Michelle, said she was so proud when she heard what her husband had done, that she made him bring the videotape made from his patrol car home so the family could watch it. She said she had no idea her husband had such good negotiating skills.
"I watched it and was amazed," she said. "It was a little overwhelming. They (the children) were proud to see their dad save the guy."
The Chamber also recognized three Cobb County programs at Monday's breakfast for their innovative approach to public safety: Drug Treatment Court of Cobb County Superior Court, an alternative to jail time for first-time drug offenders; the Marietta Fire Department's fire extinguisher training aid and Cobb County-based security company Chesley Brown International's Security Advisory Messenger (S.A.M). The S.A.M system notifies employees at shopping centers about important public safety information, such as a missing child or homeland security threat.
Copyright © 2003 Marietta Daily Journal. All rights reserved. All other trademarks and Registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.
