Woodbury public safety recognizes 911 dispatcher, citizen at ceremony

The Woodbury Public Safety Department held its annual recognition event Thursday where a number of police officers and a citizen were recognized.

Public Safety Director Lee Vague praised the staff’s education efforts in fire safety, quick and efficient response to medical calls and response to a fatal Afton crash that took the life of a teenager last year.

The awards included a Letter of Outstanding Achievement to dispatcher Katie Cafferty, who helped police find a sexual assault suspect after taking the call from the victim.

“It starts from dispatch,” Vague said, adding that Cafferty was able to ask all the pertinent questions and put the pieces of the puzzle together to help catch the suspect.

Vague also presented a Kargel Award, a rare award given to citizens, to Shane Mumm.

Mumm called in a garage burglary after seeing the suspects running away from his own vehicle at 5:15 a.m., Vague said.

Mumm was able to get a license plate, helping an officer locate the suspects at the Red Roof Inn based on the description that he gave.

Mumm went to Red Roof Inn and identified the vehicle as being the one that left the scene.

Vague said during the investigation, more than 50 stolen items were recovered from 21 different victims, including seven from Woodbury. The monetary loss was more than $5,000. The suspects were then arrested as a result.

“You can’t do it alone,” Vague said. “It really requires citizens’ participation.”

The award ceremony was attended by a number of police officers, although a few who were recognized were out responding to an accident in the area.

The Letters of Outstanding Achievement were given in the following categories:

-Contribution to public education: Cory Bauman, Nathan Bietler, Angela Kain, Tim Heap, Brett Merkatoris, Chris O’Brien, Ben Nelson and Scott Tenner.

- Station leadership: Craig Bloom, John Byrne, Mike Douvier, Craig Erhard and Russ Hawkinson.

- Sexual assault investigation: Katie Cafferty, Kim Shogren and Jeff Snyder.

- Theft investigation and commercial burglary investigation: Investive technician Michele Jurjans.

n Residential burglary investigation: Lynn Drost, Chris Huhn, Michele Jurjans, Tony Ofstead, Lucas Rogers and Kim Shogren.

- Medical intervention on choking patient: Jason Arney O’Neil.

- Motor Vehicle Crash: Jeff Gottstein, Natalie Martin, Fran Schmitz and Nick Wachal.

- Theft investigation: Jeff Benysek.

- Jewelry recovery: Investigative technician Wendy Simone.

- K9 Narcotic Certification: Jeff Gottstein.

Achievement medals were given to the following officers:

- Jason Posel, for K9 narcotic certification; Craig Erhard, portal development; Eric DeBaker, firehouse improvement; and William Braun, public education leadership.

Officers Erhard, Britney Paradowski and Tim Heap were also given achievement medals for the development of a training records electronic system.

Police stars were given for special response team service: Sgt. Dave Brenan and for service to public safety: Chris Zacharias.

A fire star was given to Paul Weichert for his dedication to fire service.

Tags: public safety, news, woodbury