2016 Duty Officer of the Quarter

January through March | Duty Officer Debra Suzanne Griffin

Congratulations to Duty Officer Debra Griffin on her selection as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for January through March 2016.

On Wednesday, March 16, 2016, there was a traffic crash in Jackson County involving two school buses and a Semi Truck with entrapment on the buses. Because of this incident, US- 90 was shut down for four hours. During this incident, Griffin remained calm and professional. Griffin made several other phone calls, documented extensive detailed notes in the CAD, and kept her supervisors up to date throughout the call.

Griffin’s work ethic, professional knowledge, dedication and perseverance make her a real asset to the Florida Highway Patrol. Griffin is congratulated for being selected as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for January through March 2016.

April through June | Communications Training Officer Salenia McQuaig

Congratulations to Communications Training Officer Salenia McQuaig on her selection as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for April through June 2016.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2016, McQuaig received a call from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office in regards to an Active Shooter incident. The lone gunman had already shot and killed three people and was believed to be in the vicinity of Green Cove Springs. At the request of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, McQuaig began dispatching responding units to several locations to shut down roads and create a perimeter around the area. During the next three hours, McQuaig effectively shut down six intersections, dispatched more than ten units and assisted with the command post setup at the location where the suspect had barricaded himself.

McQuaig’s work ethic, professional knowledge, dedication and perseverance make her a real asset to the Florida Highway Patrol. McQuaig is congratulated for being selected as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for April through June 2016.

July through September | Regional Duty Officer Joytavier S. Laws

Congratulations to Regional Duty Officer Joytavier S. Laws on her selection as the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for July through September 2016.

On Sunday, September 25, 2016, Trooper Brien attempted to stop a vehicle west bound on Blue Star Highway in Quincy, Florida. Laws made sure that Trooper Brien did not need emergency traffic since the vehicle was not pulling over. Once the vehicle stopped and Trooper Brien contacted the driver, he could tell something about the driver was not right. Laws, at the request of Trooper Brien, attempted to contact the driver’s family with the help of Chattahoochee Police Department and Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office.

Unfortunately, it was learned from a family member that the driver suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and all of his family lived in Tennessee leaving no one in the area to take care of him. After EMS checked the driver out, they took him to a local facility to be observed and so arrangements could be made for him.

Laws professionalism, empathy and teamwork with Trooper Brien displayed that day, serves as an excellent representation of the Florida Highway Patrol’s values, goals and mission.

October through December | Regional Duty Officer Jerrica Prather, Communications Training Officer Stefanie M. Larrimore, Regional Duty Officer Jessi Griffin, Communications Training Officer Kristin Amberg

Congratulations to Regional Duty Officer Jerrica Prather, Communications Training Officer Stefanie M. Larrimore, Regional Duty Officer Jessi Griffin and Communications Training Officer Kristin Amberg for each of their selections as co­recipients for Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for October through December 2016.

On November 14, 2016, Prather received a call for backup to assist a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was being chased by a vehicle attempting to run into the deputy’s marked unit. At the time, it was believed that the deputy was on 1-75, Mile Marker 131 in Lee County. While Prather was on the line with the Sheriff’s Office, she could hear the deputy requesting help on LCSO’s radio. Prather immediately notified Larrimore that the situation had escalated, who then advised Master Sergeant Daniel W. Taylor of the information. It was at that time that LCSO notified all agencies that shots had been fired. It was then confirmed that the correct location was on 1-75 Southbound on the Corkscrew exit ramp, Mile Marker 123 in Estero with a visual of someone lying on the ground on the exit ramp.

Larrimore immediately dispatched all available units and made the necessary notifications to the Command Staff. LCSO advised their deputy was injured with non-life-threatening injuries, but still needed assistance for long-term ramp closure due to active shots fired. Larrimore notified DBI and assisted in the coordination of responding units. At the Sergeant’s request, all units moved to a detail radio channel where Griffin and Amberg handled the radio traffic.

Griffin, with the assistance of her trainer, Amberg, kept track of the multiple units on the scene, made the proper documentation in the CAD, updated Web EOC and State Warning Point, coordinated responding units and ensured teletypes were properly disseminated while answering all radio traffic on the detail channel.

It was later discovered that the deputy had conducted a traffic stop on the Corkscrew exit ramp when the occupant of the vehicle immediately and violently assaulted the deputy. A Good Samaritan, who was legally carrying a concealed weapon, stopped the assailant by shooting him causing him fatal injuries and saving the life of the deputy.

Prather’s, Larrimore’s, Griffin’s and Amberg’s work ethic, professional knowledge, dedication and perseverance make each of them a real asset to the Florida Highway Patrol. They are each congratulated for being selected as co-recipients of the Florida Highway Patrol Duty Officer of the Quarter for October through December 2016.