Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Harrington earns Chester County’s ‘You Rock’ award
WEST CHESTER » Chester County Sheriff’s Deputy Melissa Harrington has earned the prestigious “You Rock” award.
Chester County Sheriff’s Cpl. Noah Hughes cited three key attributes for Harrington’s win: empathy for others, compassion for her colleagues, and going above and beyond even when she’s off duty.
Harrington embodies those qualities, Hughes said, making her a worthy choice for the recognition. The quarterly award is part of the Businesses Backing Blue program, an initiative of the Deputy Sheriffs’ Association of Pennsylvania. Its creators wanted a way to applaud the exemplary work of deputies behind the scenes to protect the public – efforts that sometimes go unnoticed. The selection is based on nominations that are submitted by members of the office.
Giving some examples of the work that fueled Harrington’s nomination, Hughes said she was assigned to Family Court when a toddler wandered outside a hearing room, unnoticed by his distracted guardian. The deputy spotted the boy just as a concerned member of the public had picked him up. Harrington took temporary custody of the child, forming an immediate bond with the youngster that would outlive the child’s eventual return to his caretaker.
In the Sheriff’s Office, Harrington stepped in after Deputy Sheriff Marian “My” Inderelst announced that she was battling myeloma. Harrington turned her shock and sadness into action, immediately ordering “My strong” arm bands and helping to organize fundraising efforts to help Inderelst defray her treatment costs.
Finally, Hughes noted Harrington was off-duty when she came upon a twovehicle crash at the busy intersection of Route 202 and West Chester Pike. Harrington not only called 911, but she also assisted a firefighter who arrived at the scene. She checked injuries and helped direct traffic until she was able to turn control of the scene over to officers from the West Goshen Township Police Department.
Chester County Sheriff Fredda L. Maddox applauded Harrington’s selection.
The Sheriff said she had witnessed Harrington’s superior work ethic even before she took office, pointing out that she had been present when Harrington rescued the lost boy. Describing Harrington’s “heart of gold,” Maddox turned to her and said, “You do rock.”
As the quarterly winner, Harrington received a gift certificate to Barnaby’s restaurant in West Chester, a framed certificate, and temporary ownership of a large serpentine stone. The special specimen — native to Chester County — is mounted on a base that says: “You rock! Chester County Sheriff’s Office Employee Recognition Award.”