Governor Perdue Recognizes 19 Georgians for Acts of Heroism and Contributions to Public Safety

FORSYTH– Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced the recipients of the Governor's Public Safety Awards (GPSA) at a ceremony in Forsyth recognizing 15 public safety professionals for acts of heroism and four 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 2008 Governor's Public Safety Awards are as follows:

Heroism Recipients

• Daniel Shane Burke – Lieutenant – Sylvania Fire Department
• Duane Owens – Firefighter – Sylvania Fire Department
• Trevin A. Moore – Corporal – Sylvania Police Department
• Sammie Joe Cephus – Captain – Montezuma Fire & Emergency Services
• Dorminey McCrae – Officer – Tifton Police Department
• Stacy Prater – Flight Medic –  Erlanger Health System, LIFE FORCE
• Frank G. Rhodes – Surveillance Officer – Georgia Department of Corrections
• Drew Hood – Private – Catoosa County Fire-Rescue
• Scott Phillips – Captain – Catoosa County Fire-Rescue
• Josh Shoemaker – Private – Catoosa County Fire-Rescue
• R. S. Caviness – Sergeant – DeKalb County Police Department
• Michael Dahnke – Corporal – Columbus Police Department
• Jason Elliott – Sergeant – Brunswick Police Department
• James M. Huth – Police Officer Senior – Gwinnett County Police Department
• Scott Short – Sergeant First Class – Georgia State Patrol

Contribution to Profession Recipients

• M. L. "Bud" Owens – Director of EMS – Floyd Hospital EMS
• Dr. Robbie Friedmann – Distinguished Chair of Public Safety Partnerships and Director, Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange
• R. L. "Chuck" Kelley – Chief – Stone Mountain Park Department of Public Safety
• Don T. Cargile – EMS Director – Athens Regional Medical Center EMS

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. Pictures from the ceremony will be available on our website, www.gov.state.gov by Friday, October 24^th.