FCPD names Officer of the Year
Pfc. Corey Wright is among those recognized at the department’s annual Christmas luncheon.
Floyd County Police Chief Mark Wallace named Pfc. Corey Wright Officer of the Year for 2017 during the department’s annual Christmas luncheon Wednesday.
Wright, who’s been with the FCPD for little over a year, was recognized for his Dec. 2 response to an accident where Model High School teacher and coach Sherry Gatlin was trapped under her car.
Wallace said Wright was the first officer on the scene and rushed with citizen Ken Carroll to lift the vehicle off of Gatlin. He then performed CPR until emergency responders arrived. The teacher succumbed to her injuries six days later, Wallace said, but Wright’s actions gave her more time with her family.
“He’s a hard charger,” Wallace said. “We look forward to having his dedication to the department for years to come.”
Dozens of employees and family members watched as Wallace and Major Tom Ewing and Major Jeff Jones gave out honors before the luncheon in the Joint Law Enforcement Center.
City of Rome worker Tim Peace was recognized for spotting and tracking the stolen car driven by Teddy Eugene O’Neal following a violent home invasion in Armuchee. And former GBI analyst Kevin Garrett was cited for his longtime work behind the scenes in assisting investigators.
Officers of the Quarter also received plaques and praise:
Pfc. Carlos Ribot in January doggedly traced a stolen motorcycle to uncover “a career criminal on a crime spree.”
Investigator John Overstreet gave CPR to a 77-year-old woman until medical responders arrived and returned to the home to help the family clean up.
Sgt. Brandon Robinson formed a multiagency task force that linked 153 convenience store burglaries statewide and brought racketeering charges against a gang out of Atlanta.
Lt. Ron Hunton followed up a report of a missing fiberglass bell with a return to the elderly woman’s house to
clear her yard. Also volunteering on their day off were Sgt. Rusty Williams
and Officers Brittany Heffelfinger, Dallas Bryant and Craig Stanfield.