Corrections officer earns top honor from state FOP

Home

High School Football

Sports

Other Sun Publications

FREE DELIVERY!
Get Free Delivery! Request your Osceola News Gazette Today.

Login Form

2013 Osceola Health

2013 Sexual Predator Sexual Offender List sexualpredatorcover13

Windows on the Classroom March 2013

School Calendar
2012-2013

View our other Special Sections

Corrections officer earns top honor from state FOP

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 16 June 2010 00:00

Osceola County Corrections Officer Reeshemah Taylor will receive the top honor from the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police for her role in subduing an armed, high-risk inmate who attempted to escape from the Osceola County Jail on June 22, 2009.
“The men and women of the Osceola County Corrections Department are very proud that Officer Taylor is a member of this agency and is receiving this prestigious award,” Osceola County Corrections Interim Chief Kim Bogart said. “There are not enough words to express the gratitude we feel. By her exceptional courage and actions, Officer Taylor placed her life in danger to save others, which reflected great credit upon her and upheld the highest traditions of the Osceola County Corrections Department.”
Taylor will be recognized as the Lodge’s 2009 Officer of the Year in a ceremony Friday in Jacksonville as part of the organization’s June conference.
“Our award seeks to recognize and honor those law enforcement or corrections officers who have exceeded expectations and gone far above their duty when called upon,” Florida State Lodge President James Preston said in a letter to Corrections announcing her award. “Officer Taylor’s selfless act of gallant, courageous and decisive action undoubtedly saved the lives of co-workers and prevented a determined escape. Officer Taylor placed her life in danger to stop a dangerous inmate. She is a credit to your agency and our profession.”
Taylor previously was recognized in October 2009 as Osceola County’s Employee of the Month. She later was selected as the county’s 2009 Employee of the Year and was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Osceola County Corrections Department for her bravery, courage, quick-thinking and heroic action in subduing armed inmate Angel Santiago, who had already taken another officer hostage.
In addition to earning the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police’s top honor, Taylor also has been recognized by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, which named her its Officer of the Month for February 2010. Additionally, she was named Officer of the Year for 2009 by Kissimmee Elks Lodge 1873 and she was awarded the Congressional Distinguished Service Award, which was issued by U.S. Representative Alan Grayson.
“On behalf of the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners, I would commend Officer Taylor for her actions, thank her for her service and congratulate her for earning this great honor,” Osceola County Chairman Fred Hawkins, Jr. said. “She embodies all of those qualities you look for in an exemplary Corrections Officer.”
The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 325,000 members in more than 2,100 lodges across the United States. The Florida State Lodge is comprised of 102 local lodges across the state, with 21,000 members.