The Optimist Club of Calvert-Prince Frederick kept a nearly half-century tradition going Monday, June 24 as the local organization saluted the county’s top law enforcement and public safety employees. The Optimists’ annual Respect for Law 2013 Awards Banquet was held in Tom Wisner Hall at King’s Landing Park in Huntingtown.
Eight agencies designate employees for the recognition by the service club.
“I’m glad to be a participant in this kind of civic program,” said Circuit Court Judge Edward Gregory “Greg” Wells, the event’s guest speaker. Wells, who presided over District Court cases in all three Southern Maryland counties prior to being appointed a circuit court judge, praised Calvert’s police, “From the bench’s view, the law enforcement agencies in this county are the best by far,” Wells said.
Wells chose to single out the Maryland State Police (MSP) troopers from the Prince Frederick Barrack for special recognition. “They do an outstanding job,” said Wells. “The citizens are getting their money’s worth when the troopers are on the job.”
Wells and other speakers told amazing accounts of professionals presenting tangible evidence of hard work blending intangible qualities in the performance of their jobs.
“He’s an advocate for the victims,” said Calvert State’s Attorney Laura Martin [R] of her office’s 2013 awardee, Kyle Tores. “He works incredibly hard.”
Tores has been a member of the State’s Attorney’s Office for three years and specializes in juvenile and truancy courts.
The Calvert County Detention Center’s nominee, Correctional Officer David Cook, was lauded by the facility’s administrator, Major T.D. Reece. “Supervisors describe Officer Cook as a very profession and motivated officer who takes his job seriously, with a contagious sense of humor,” said Reece. Cook, who began his career with the local detention center in the fall of 2011, is a booking officer and a member of the facility’s contraband control team.
The Southern Regional Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal selected Dfm. Don Brenneman as its 2013 honoree. Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal Duane K. Svites noted that last year Brenneman completed 36 initial investigations and closed 11 of 19 investigations that were criminal in nature—well above the national average. Svites said Brennema
