From left: Roley Altizer, Davidson Police Corporal Scott Searcy, Davidson Fire Capt. Frank Molinek and Davidson College police Sgt. Laura Vanzant.

Four people from Davidson are being recognized this week for rising above the crowd when it comes to protecting public safety.

Audio: Click below to see photos and listen to town officials read citations about Davidson’s award winners at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting.

Davidson police Corporal Scott Searcy, firefighter Frank Molinek and resident Roley Altizer all were honored publicly during Tuesday night’s Town Board meeting. Meanwhile, Davidson College’s nominee this year is campus police Sgt. Laura Vanzant.  All four were scheduled to be in the spotlight today (Thursday, Oct. 15) at a luncheon hosted Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce, which annually recognizes public safety officers in north Mecklenburg.

It’s the fourth year the chamber has given the awards, which go to one officer each from the Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Davidson College police departments, as well as a member of the North Meck Rescue squad, local fire departments and Crimestoppers. Winners will be honored at a lunch at NorthStone Country Club, Huntersville.

Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, regional director for United Family Services, will give a keynote speech on domestic violence and the need for a magistrate for North Mecklenburg.   Details: www.lakenormanchamber.org.

Scott Searcy (right) listens as Chief Jeanne Miller reads a citation honoring him. (David Boraks photo)

SCOTT SEARCY

Corporal Scott Searcy was recognized for 14 years of work. For 12 of of those years, he has been the department’s K-9 patrol officer. In the past two years, according to police chief Jeanne Miller, he has also led and improved firearms training for his fellow officers. And recently, he created a joint task force called Operation Clean Sweep with other area law enforcement agencies. The task force rounded up six drug dealers in town.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Click the play button to listen to Chief Miller read the citation for Corporal Searcy. (MP3 format, 3 mins. 19 secs.) Can’t see or hear it? Click here>

Roley Altizer (left) and Police Chief Jeanne Miller at the Town Board Tuesday. (David Boraks photo)

ROLEY ALTIZER

Roley Altizer, of Armour Street, was named the North Mecklenburg Crimestoppers Citizen of the Year for helping to galvanize neighbors in a two-year effort to reduce crime in their neighborhood. He urged neighbors to organize and pressed town officials to take action, analyzed neighbors’ concerns and proposed solutions, Chief Miller said. And Mr. Altizer did this all via the internet. A head injury in a bicycle accident several years ago makes it difficult for him to speak. “Today Roley’s voice is his computer, and his personality comes through in full force in his emails,” Chief Miller said.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Click the play button to listen to Chief Miller read the citation for Mr. Altizer. (MP3 format, 5 mins. 30 secs). Can’t see or hear it? Click here>

Davidson fire Capt. Frank Molinek. (Davidson Fire Department photo)

FRANK MOLINEK

Fire Capt. Frank Molinek, who lives in the McConnell neighborhood, has been a Davidson volunteer firefighter for 16 years. Fire chief Jeff Almond said he has helped other firefighters as they trained and became emergency medical technicians (EMTs). And he goes “above and beyond” by “always willing to do what needs to be done. … He readily pulls his shifts and often swaps with others who may need to change shifts.” This year, he took on responsibility for recruiting. Chief Almond noted that fire voluntarism nationwide is on the decline. But through Capt. Molinek’s efforts, the department has re-evaluated its recruiting – and in recent months added 5 new recruits.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Listen to Chief Almond as he reads a citation for Capt. Molinek. (MP3 format, 2 mins, 34 secs.) Can’t see the player or hear the audio? Click here>

Laura Vanzant

LAURA VANZANT

Davidson College campus police chief Fountain Walker said Sgt. Laura Vanzant is his department’s nominee for the 2009 Lake Norman Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Officer.

Sgt. Vanzant is Davidson’s first female sergeant and has been with the department 5 years. Here’s the text of the nomination:

“Sgt. Vanzant began her career in law enforcement with Cornelius Police Department in November 1999. She spent more than four years with Cornelius working as a patrol officer gaining valuable experience in many areas of law enforcement. On Feb. 1, 2004, Sgt. Vanzant made the transfer to the Davidson College Campus Police Department to better serve in the area of higher education. Working as a law enforcement officer at a private institution presents many new and intriguing challenges which Sgt. Vanzant has embraced with dedication and professionalism.

“Sgt. Vanzant has had numerous milestones since becoming a Davidson College Campus Police Officer. She was selected as the Residence Life Office Officer of the Year in 2006, she became the first female sergeant in the history of Davidson College when she was promoted in October 2007, and has been selected to be an instructor for the NC Criminal Justice Academy Instructor program, the first from a private institution in the area.

“Sgt. Vanzant wears many hats in the Davidson College Campus Police Department. She is a patrol sergeant responsible for a patrol shift, she is the department’s training coordinator, and is the primary investigator for the department.”