APD announces year-end award winners

ASHEBORO — The Asheboro Police Department held its year-end banquet in December. Officers were honored and recognized for various achievements and awards, including Officer of the Year.

Here’s a recap:

2022 Police Officer Of The Year 

MPO Paul Maness 

Awarded to an officer nominated by their team supervisor and chosen by the Asheboro Police Department Command Staff. This officer is nominated and chosen on their outstanding work performance, professional accomplishments, positive attitude and willingness to go over and beyond. Master Police Officer Paul Maness has been employed with Asheboro Police Department since 1996. Officer Maness is dependable and treats all people with politeness and respect. He currently serves as a Park Ranger, he has taught DARE for many years, served in the Street Crimes Unit, served as an SRO, and served several years on the SWAT team.

Top Gun Award

PO I Matthew Bym

Top Gun is given to a police officer that is the most proficient with his/her service weapons, including shotgun and handgun. The overall best score that can be obtained is a 625. The top scores this year were:

PO I Matthew Bym 622.6

2. (Tie) MPO Ethan Williamson 621.6 

Lt. Jeremiah Callicutt 621.6

4. Lt. Corey Hatfield 619.2

5. MSgt. Daniel Shropshire 619.0 

6. Mlt. Scott Brown 618.0

Intermediate Certificate

PO II Dallas Kivett 

PO II Justin Moody

To be eligible, a candidate must has accumulated at least 32 education and/or training points and at least 8 years’ experience, or accumulated at least 40 education and/or training points and at least six 6 years’ experience, or accumulated at least 48 education and/or training points and at least 4 years’ experience, or has an Associate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 16 training points and at least 4 years’ experience, or has a Baccalaureate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 8 training points and at least 2 years’ experience. 

Advanced Law

Enforcement Certificate

MSgt. Daniel Shropshire 

MSgt. Jacob Kennedy 

MPO Leah Burnette 

An officer can qualify for the Advanced Certificate if he or she meets the requirements for the Intermediate Certificate, and has accumulated at least 48 education and/or training points and at least 12 years’ experience, or has accumulated at least 60 education and/or training points and at least 9 years’ experience, or has an Associate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 36 training points and at least 9 years’ experience, or has a Baccalaureate Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accumulated at least 24 training points and at least 6 years’ experience, or has a Graduate or Professional Degree issued by an academic institution recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation; has accu1nulated at least 16 training points and at least four 4 years’ experience. 

Life-Saving Award

MPO Michael Fulk 

POII Olivia Hicks 

Awarded to officers who perform a life-saving act under extraordinary circumstances. It shall be awarded to an officer who took direct, immediate and positive action to preserve the life of another human being who was in danger of dying; the action taken did prevent the loss of a human life; the circumstances of the act were such that any delay in providing assistance would, in all probability, have resulted in the person’s death. 

On May 8, 2022, at 2031 hours, Asheboro PD units responded to 212 Washington Ave. regarding an individual who had been stabbed multiple times. When officers arrived on scene, they located the victim laying in a fetal position in a substantial pool of blood. MPO Fulk was the officer to initially locate the victim and when he observed the victim’s condition, he quickly alerted Officer Hicks to have EMS respond in a lights and siren fashion while he went to his police vehicle to retrieve a trauma bag. While assessing the victim, MPO Fulk utilized large sterile dressings to clear blood from the victim’s wound to identify the most significant injuries, which were multiple stab wounds on the victim’s chest, left side, back and left arm. POII Hicks was able to also render aid to the victim. Both she and MPO Fulk applied pressure dressings to the victim’s wounds, while other officers cleared the residence to ensure a safe scene. While these actions were carried out, Officers Fulk and Hicks attempted to communicate with the victim who was having difficulty breathing and speaking to them. 

There is no doubt the quick actions of these two officers in rendering aid preserved the life of this victim. Medical personnel at Moses Cone relayed to the detective assigned this case that the actions taken on scene by responding officers played a significant role in the well-being of the victim.

Life-Saving Award

MPO Paul Maness

On Nov. 14, 2022, MPO Paul Maness was unloading his truck at the Community Resource Team Office on Coleridge Road. MPO Maness was approached from a lady across the apartment complex who was yelling for help. 

She advised Maness her friend had come into her apartment and collapsed. She was unsure if the victim was breathing and advised the victim had blood coming from their mouth. Without hesitation, MPO Maness radioed that he would be out with a possible cardiac arrest and ran across the road to assess the victim. Upon entering the apartment, MPO Maness immediately rolled the patient onto their back and determined the victim was not breathing and did not have a pulse. MPO Maness informed 911 via radio he had started CPR. 

MPO Maness recognized the seriousness of the event and acted without hesitation directly resulting in the preservation of the victim’s life. Without the actions of MPO Maness on this day, the situation would have certainly had a different outcome. 

Meritorious Conduct Award

MPO Troy Vincent 

PO II Adam Edmisten 

PO II Olivia Hicks 

PO II Alyssa Nance 

PO II Katherine Kallam  

Meritorious Conduct shall be given to police officers who have performed duties that is extraordinary, outstanding or considered praiseworthy in nature. An act of intelligent and valuable police service demonstrating special faithfulness or perseverance, or highly creditable acts of police service over a period of time. The award is not based on any single incident; rather the focus is on the overall contribution made by the officer during a period of duty responsibility. The Meritorious Conduct Award is considered exemplary performance beyond the standard that is normally exhibited. 

Merit Award

PO I Jason Workman

PO II Dallas Kivett 

PO II Katherine Kallam

Given to any active member of the department for acts involving personal risk-posing hazards that could lead to serious injury or loss of life to the member. 

On Dec. 23, 2021, Officer Kivett was leaving work after working his scheduled 12-hour shift. On Salisbury Street near S. Randolph Ave., Officer Kivett observed the residence of 131 S. Randolph Ave. to be engulfed with flames. Officer Kivett advised 911 of what he had observed and began to take action. 

Officer Kallam advised to enter the back/basement door of the residence and two individuals were located sleeping. At this time, several other officers began arriving on scene. Officer Kivett knew there were more people upstairs where the fire was, so he courageously went up the steps towards the fire and began knocking on doors. 

After reviewing body worn cameras from other officers on scene, it was very clear flames were extending out of the windows 5-10 feet at times. There was also a considerable amount of smoke in the upstairs part of the residence making it difficult for an officer to navigate.

While knocking on an upstairs door, knowing the fire was only one room away, Officer Kivett remained calm in the face of danger and continued yelling for the occupants to come out of their room. 

Several officers went into the house fire this day, and I believe it took courage on the part of all officers. However, Officers Kivett, Kallam and Workrnan would not leave until they were sure the residence was clear of people and courageously entered into a smoke-filled house. Knowing lives are in danger, and placing your safety second to those around you takes a special kind of officer. 

Special Recognitions

PO II Olivia Hicks 

Records Specialist

Courtney Chriscoe 

On May 10, 2022, Congressman Ted Budd recognized PO II Olivia Hicks and Records Specialist Courtney Chriscoe after being contacted by one of his constituents to recognize Officer Hicks and Officer in training (at the time) Chriscoe for their exceptional public service.On March 2, 2022 the constituent that contacted Congressman Budd was on his way to a medical procedure when his wife, who was his driver, suddenly began experiencing medical symptoms. This forced the couple to make an emergency stop at a service station. A Good Samaritan called 911 and Hicks and Chriscoe arrived and both sprang into action. As EMTs cared for the gentleman’s wife, the officers personally drove the gentleman to his appointment and arranged for the man a caretaker for his trip home and to be with him until the effects of his procedure wore off. The gentleman was deeply touched for the officer’s efforts to go above and beyond on this call. During a session of US Congress, this was read into the record.

Special Recognitions

MPO Michael Fulk

On Oct. 21, 2022, while working off-duty assignment in downtown, he advised he was with three male subjects at 170 North Church Street who had possibly broken into the building and were stealing construction materials. Subjects stated they had been given permission to gather scrap metal. 

Other officers responded. Together, they searched the suspects’ vehicle and locating 400 feet of heavy duty power cord, 100 feet of ROMEX conduit, 100 feet of generator power transfer cable, a Craftsman 189 piece tool set, a Hyper Tough lantern and a Craftsman 20 volt reciprocating saw. Officers also located other items in the building and found evidence that these items were being attempted to be removed. 

MPO Fulk made contact with a company representative who was in charge of the construction at the jobsite and advised he had not given anyone permission to be on the jobsite. The representative advised the total value of the items taken that belonged to their company (the cord, cable and conduit) was approximately $1,040. Other items were seized as evidence. Several charges were obtained during the incident. 

MPO Fulk’s experience played a vital role in identifying the behaviors, tools and stolen items consistent with metal thefts throughout the city. It is not very often that law enforcement is able to catch someone in the act while committing a crime such as this.

2022 Civilian Employee Of The Year

ACO Brantley Harper

Awarded to a non-sworn employee and chosen by the Asheboro Police Department Command Staff. This employee is nominated and chosen on their outstanding work performance, professional accomplishments and their willingness to go over and beyond. ACO Brantley Harper is a dedicated, dependable individual who was hired as one of our Animal Control Officers on April 16, 2021. Animal Control is a vital part of our public safety in Asheboro. 

ACO Harper, day in and day out, comes to work and does his job. He is well liked by members of patrol and he is obviously a true professional who takes his job seriously. ACO Harper also served his country in the United States Navy before joining the Asheboro Police Department.