Footprinters honor Clallam County Officers of the Year

May 17, 2017 1:30 am
Footprinters honor Clallam County Officers of the Year

On May 8, the Olympic Peninsula Chapter 74 of the International Footprint Association honored the achievements of law enforcement and public safety organizations of Clallam County at its “10th Annual Officer of the Year” awards banquet held at the Elks Sequim Lodge.

Program chair Gene Mattson and chapter president Maura Mattson presented special recognition plaques to officers selected by their peers who have excelled in their careers as a top performer and for their dedication, professionalism and exemplary service to the community they serve.

The 14 agencies recognized were: Sequim Police Department, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, Port Angeles Police Department, Forks Police Department, Port Angeles Fire Department, Clallam County Fire Districts 2, 3 and 4, Washington State Patrol, U.S. Border Patrol, Clallam Bay Corrections Center, U.S. Coast Guard, Elwha Klallam Police Department and PenCom.

From left, (honorees are holding plaques) are Maura Mattson, Chapter 74 Footprinter president; Sequim Police Department: Officer Rick Larsen, Sgt. John Southard; PenCom: Communications Officer Marilyn Sheats, Communications Manager Karl Hatton; Clallam County Sheriff Office: Deputy Don Kitchen, Sheriff Bill Benedict; Port Angeles Police Department: Officer Whitney Fairbanks, Chief Brian Smith; Forks Police Department: Officer Don Ponton, Chief Rick Bart: Elwha Klallam Police Department: Officer Jimmy Thompson, Chief Jeff Gilbert; Washington State Patrol: Sgt. Gailin Hester, Trooper Eric J. Ellefson; Clallam Bay Corrections Center: Superintendent Ron Haynes, Officer Mark Welch; CCFD 2: Chief Sam Phillips, Volunteer Firefighter/EMT Steven Bentley; CCFD 3: Chief Ben Andrews, Firefighter/Paramedic Neil Borggard; CCFD 4: Chief Alex Baker, EMT Carolyn Flint; U.S. Border Patrol, Port Angeles Station: Acting Patrol Agent in Charge Jason Carrol, Supervisory Patrol Agent Stephen Carter; U.S. Coast Guard: Command Master Chief David Ozuna, AMT 1 Christian Williams.

Footprinters is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to bring together those in law enforcement, firefighting, business and professional people and citizens of the community who are interested in supporting those in public safety, promoting positive relations with the community and promoting the true spirit of Americanism through numerous activities.