Governor Perdue Recognizes 32 Georgians for Acts of Heroism and Contributions to Public Safety

Governor Perdue Recognizes 32 Georgians for Acts of Heroism and Contributions to Public Safety

Annual Public Safety Awards Ceremony Honors Georgia Heroes

FORSYTH, Ga. – Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced the recipients of the Governor’s Public Safety Awards (GPSA) at a ceremony in Forsyth, Georgia, recognizing 29 public safety professionals for acts of heroism and three for contributions to the profession.  The recipients were given medallions and their names were added to the GPSA monument at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC).

“Georgia is proud to recognize our law enforcement officers and emergency responders for their commitment to Georgia’s public safety,” said Governor Sonny Perdue.  “These individuals exhibit courage and dedication every day to keep us safe.”

The annual GPSA program began in 1998 to recognize the outstanding accomplishments and commitment of Georgia’s public safety community.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Georgia’s public safety professionals who risk their lives daily and sacrifice time away from their families to protect our citizens,” said J. Dale Mann, GPSA committee chairman and GPSTC director. 

The GPSA program recognizes public safety professionals in the following two categories:

• Act of Heroism – Recognizes those who performed an exceptional deed which resulted in saving lives and/or protecting property.
• Outstanding Contribution which Enhanced the Profession – Job performance which had an overwhelming positive affect on the overall profession.

Personnel from each discipline of public safety as well as state employees with public safety authority were eligible to receive the award.  Nominations were submitted by local governments, state agencies, associations, police departments, sheriff’s offices, correctional facilities, fire departments, 9-1-1 communications, emergency medical services and emergency management agencies.

Recipients of the 2006 Governor’s Public Safety Awards are as follows:

Heroism Recipients

• James Simons – Officer – University of Georgia Police Department
• Derrick Gregory – Corporal – University of Georgia Police Department
• Michael David Ergle – Fire Captain - Crisp County Fire Rescue
• Clinton Rivers – Deputy Sheriff - Stewart County Sheriff’s Office
• Daniel R. Simmons – Corporal – Lumpkin Police Department
• John D. Stripling, III – Chief of Police - Lumpkin Police Department
• Vance Streeter – Emergency Medical Technician – Stewart County Emergency Medical Services
• Blake R. Buchan – Assistant Chief of EMS – Stewart County Emergency Medical Services
• Gregory M. Stewart – Director of EMS and Fire Services – Stewart County Emergency Medical Services
• Patrick M. Duff – Lieutenant – Georgia State Patrol
• Randy E. Joiner – Sergeant First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• James G. Tanner – Trooper First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• Mike Bradshaw – Senior Trooper – Georgia State Patrol
• Tony C. Thompson – Senior Trooper – Georgia State Patrol
• David A. Lacey – Sergeant First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• W. Tracy Tabb – Sergeant – Georgia State Patrol
• Garry L. Greene – Senior Trooper – Georgia State Patrol
• Matthew K. Holloway – Trooper First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• Thomas M. Bonner – Trooper First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• Henry Lynch – Trooper First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• Michael Kevin Harris – Trooper First Class – Georgia State Patrol
• Kevin Moore – Firefighter/EMT – Kingsland Fire Rescue
• Matthew Buehler – Detective – Marietta Police Department
• Patrick Usher – Police Officer II – Cobb County Police Department
• Carlos Bruce Moody – Correctional Officer II – Georgia Department of Corrections,     Montgomery State Prison
• Ronald G. Fagan – Captain – Truck 19 C Shift, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services
• Trevor A. Levy – Engineer – Truck 19 C Shift, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services
• Kenny D. Lambert – Firefighter – Truck 19 C Shift, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services
• Steve C. Bennett – Firefighter – Truck 19 C Shift, Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services

Contribution to Profession Recipients

• Michael S. Yeager – Sheriff – Coweta County Sheriff’s Office
• R.E. “Gene” Wilson – Chief of Police - Sandy Springs Police Department
• Steve Cronic – Hall County Sheriff – Hall County Sheriff’s Office

For further details on each of the honorees, please visit the Georgia Public Safety Training Center’s web site at www.gpstc.georgia.gov and click on the link marked Governor’s Public Safety Awards.

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