Five Marine Corps Police Department officers aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany were presented with service awards, August 21. One officer was honored for his heroic actions, and the other four were recognized for their length of service.
Officer Willie Hall received a certificate of commendation for his distinguished achievement in his superior performance of duty while patrolling the base on July 11th.
“Basically I just feel like I was at the right place at the right time,” Hall said.
A former officer with the Albany Police Department, Hall quickly jumped into action to prevent a potential tragedy by instinctively responding to a house fire.
After he calmed a distressed child whose mother was still inside a smoke-filled residence, Hall quickly extracted the child’s mother to safety, before returning to ensure the fire was extinguished.
“I’ve been in situations before where I actually had to hop into a fire to save lives,” Hall explained, “it’s just not only this job, the title that we have, it’s also just being a human being … you see somebody else in distress if you can help them, help them. And that’s how I am.”
Other officers were recognized for their length of service.
Officer Dennis Shedrick received a 30-year length of service award.
Deputy Chief Sean Lamonzs also received a 30-year length of service award, which came as a surprise to him, given he planned the award ceremony for the officers.
“Law enforcement is a thankless job in many regards, but at the same time the community relies on us, and today was important because it re-emphasized that, their actions don’t go unnoticed,” Lamonzs said.
Lamonzs, a retired Marine, has since served 10 years with the MCPD.
“It speaks volumes and I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to serve my country as long as I have” Lamonzs added.
Other officers may soon follow his footsteps.
Derrick Jones and Jeremiah Fenn both received 10-year length of service awards.
For Police Chief Randy Jack, it’s important to recognize the men and women who sacrifice their lives for the safety and security of MCLB Albany.
“It means a lot to me, as the police chief, to have the opportunity to recognize these people going above and beyond; and hopefully it means a lot (to them) to receive the awards in front of their peers” Jack said.