Left to right: Lieutenant Maritza Gonzalez, Duty Officer Rick Skinner,
Duty Officer Supervisor Ron Cooper Duty Officer Skinner receives
his award for being name Duty Officer of the Quarter.

Congratulations to Duty Officer Rickey Skinner for being selected as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for January thru March 2011, for going the extra mile to save a life.

On March 3, 2011, Duty Officer Skinner received a call from a law enforcement officer working in his area at approximately 12:45 p.m. The officer asked Skinner to log him out sick for the rest of the day because he was not feeling well. The officer continued to explain his symptoms to Skinner, who recognized the symptoms as a possibly life threatening condition. Skinner continued to speak with the officer in order to keep him on the phone while he contacted Levy County Emergency Medical Services. Once Levy County EMS was on the line, Skinner told them of the officer’s symptoms and asked to have EMS respond to his home. EMS arrived and transported the officer to the hospital, where he was diagnosed as having a stroke.

Thanks to his quick thinking and desire to go the extra mile, the officer is now out of the hospital and at home recovering. The incident could have ended so much worse if not for Skinner’s awareness, professionalism and dedication. Skinner is congratulated for being selected as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for January through March 2011.