The city honored two employees tonight, one for diffusing a potentially harmful situation and the other for reaching a law enforcement milestone.
Code Enforcement Supervisor Brian Duhadaway was honored with an award of valor for saving a child from a locked vehicle in extreme summer heat last month and Sergeant Richard White was presented his advanced law enforcement certificate. Master Officer Chris Woodruff also received the same honor as White but was not at tonight’s city council meeting.
In a letter to City Manager Paul Sabiston, Planning and Development Director Amanda Jarratt explained Duhadaway was returning to city hall from his lunch on July 14 when he noticed a pregnant woman trying to stop traffic in distress along Jackson Street. “As Mr. Duhadaway stopped to provide assistance, he was informed that the woman had accidentally locked her approximately one-year-old child in the car.”
Jarratt explained temperatures were in the high 90s that day and the child was in the car for several minutes. The mother had no way to call for help. “Mr. Duhadaway was able to break the back window and rescue the child from the car. Fortunately, because of Mr. Duhadaway’s quick action, the child did not suffer any serious injuries as a result of the hot temperatures in the vehicle.”
Said Jarratt in the letter: “Mr. Duhadaway demonstrated exceptional compassion and bravery in assisting this citizen and rescuing her child from a locked car with dangerous temperatures rising. Mr. Duhadaway’s actions prevented an incident from escalating into a potentially dangerous situation.”
Meanwhile, Chief Jeff Hinton said White and Woodruff have completed the required training to receive the advanced law enforcement certificate. “This is a milestone in their law enforcement career.”