Forks Forum staff
The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office recently announced several awards for 2012. Sheriff Bill Benedict also provided comments on each award winner’s contributions. Among those receiving awards:
Employee of the Year:
Kaylene Zellar
Civil Deputy Kaylene Zellar was hired by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office in 2006 and has demonstrated continual excellence in service regardless of assignment. Through her performance as an administrative assistant with the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET), she successfully managed grants, monies, drug fund expenditures, intelligence files and civil seizure cases with little supervisory oversight. Zellar’s contribution to OPNET was an essential factor in the unit receiving the prestigious Western States Information Network Agency of the Year Award in 2008.
In 2009, Zellar moved to the civil deputy position in Support Services where she took over management of issues involving civil process subpoenas and writs, concealed weapons permits and management, sex offender registration and more. Her work included working with the implementation of the Live Scan process of obtaining and submitting fingerprints electronically rather than the older and less efficient ink method.
Zellar’s continuous commitment to excellence in the performance of every task she is assigned is a credit to this agency and appreciated by all that work with her. Bennett cited “her zeal for perfection, her determination to overcome obstacles and solve problems as well as her exceptional work ethic,” saying, “they are in the highest standards of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.”
Volunteer of the Year:
Dave Hepner
Community Police Volunteer Dave Hepner has been a member of the Community Oriented Policing Team since March 2010. During that time he has served as the Special Deputy responsible for serving summons and subpoenas in Clallam County. Hepner has an incredible work ethic and will adjust his hours and days he volunteers to accomplish his mission of serving civil paperwork as well as volunteering at almost every community policing event since 2010.
Since Hepner joined the volunteer cadre at the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office he has earned the bronze, silver and this year the gold Award for volunteering over 500 hours in 2012. Bennett said, “He is a pleasure to work with and his dedicated service to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has earned him the Volunteer of the Year Award.” Bennett also thanked all of the “115 volunteers who together gave 9,171 hours of service to the Sheriff’s Office and their community in 2012,” noting, “these hours are equal to $208,107.01.”
Volunteers serve in search and rescue, community policing, amateur radio emergency services, cold case investigations, emergency management, code enforcement, on the chaplain team and as reserve deputies.
Sheriff’s Star :
Sgt. Nick Turner
Early on the morning of June 3, 2012, Sgt. Turner and his team were called to the report of a man down at a residence on Heuhslein Road. Responding units found that the man had been shot several times and died of his injuries. Coincidentally, other members of Turner’s team had responded to a suspicious person in the woods up Blue Mountain Road not far away. Turner quickly identified that the two situations were linked and the suspicious person was the suspect in the murder. Turner quickly and effectively contained a very large area to trap the suspect. As he deployed further personnel, the containment shrank, to the point the suspect ultimately was cornered in a wooded area and captured without incident.
It was discovered that the
suspect had committed not one, but two homicides and had intentions on killing further. Turner’s quick reaction and superior leadership in coordinating personnel undoubtedly was instrumental in the timely capture of an armed and dangerous suspect who was intent on further mayhem.
Bennett announced, “It is with great pleasure the men and women of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office presented Sgt. Nick Turner with the Sheriff’s Star.”
Sheriff’s Star:
Chris James
Chris James is being recognized for her 13 years of service with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office serving in the capacities of administrative assistant to the sheriff, support services supervisor and administrative coordinator for the command staff. During that time, James distinguished herself as a tireless, determined and exceptionally effective project and program manager.
Her meticulous, determined and tireless work ethic as well as her ability to quickly assimilate and adapt to high pressure and fluid changing circumstances is an inspiration to others and a credit to the citizens of Clallam County. Bennett said, “It is with great pleasure the men and women of the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office presented Chris James with the Sheriff’s Star.”
Lifesaving Award:
Deputy Brian Knutson
In the early morning hours of Oct. 1, 2012, Deputy Brian Knutson, upon hearing Cpl. Dave Drombrowski and Officer Brian Stamon of the Port Angeles Police Department attempting CPR on a 22-year-old who had collapsed, having a heart attack, went to the location and deployed his AED as part of the CPR process. The addition of the AED achieved the level whereby responding medics were able to safely transport the victim to Olympic Medical Center where he eventually recovered.
Knutson, through his quick actions, exercising exceptional diligence, significantly contributed to life-saving efforts that resulted in the victim’s survival and eventual recovery. Knutson, said Bennett, “is recognized for Life Saving by the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office on behalf of the citizens of Clallam County.”
