Sgt. Brenda Hafley, right, wipes away a tear as police Chief Bobby Dodd presents her with the “Chief’s Award” at the Chattanooga Police Department’s annual awards ceremony on Friday. Hafley suffers from a rare and aggressive form of cancer, but recently returned to duty on the police force.
Chattanooga Police Honors• Officer of the Year: Officer Tim Tomisek• Life Saving Award: Capt. David Roddy, Lt. Zach McCullough, Sgt. Jon Chambers, Sgt. Randy Noorbergen, Sgt. Joe Shaw, Investigator Michael Wenger, Investigator Rusty Morrison, Investigator John Patterson, Investigator Justin Kilgore, Officer Ronald Zirk, Officer Peter Turk, Officer Randy Raulston, Officer Steven Campbell, Officer Jeremy Eames, Officer Jonathan Brock, Officer John Tolson, Officer Caleb Brooks, Medic Glenn Susskind and Officer Christopher Blackwell• Chief’s Award: Sgt. Brenda Hafley• Manager of the Year: Capt. Jeff Francis• Supervisor of the Year: Sgt. Sully Batts• Investigator of the Year: Investigator Charles Petty• Patrol Officer of the Year: Bryon Boller• Rookie of the Year: Officer Philip McCall• Civilian of the Year: Mark Hamilton• Explorer of the Year: Derelle Roshell• Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association Volunteer Award: Sherrie Greenwood and Billy Greenwood
With perfect poise and tears in her eyes, a Chattanooga Police Department sergeant walked through the department’s gymnasium Friday to accept an award.
Sgt. Brenda Hafley, 49, came back to work last week and continues to fight a rare form of cancer, spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma, that has been diagnosed in only 17 adults worldwide. In 2010, before her diagnosis, she supervised eight patrol officers on Charlie Team.
Her teen daughter, Charla, clasped her hand and walked with her.
“Just being around the guys and just taking in the energy,” she said after accepting the Chief’s Award. “This award is nominated straight from the chief, so it meant a lot to me, coming from him.”
Hafley was one of 26 officers from the department as well as four civilians honored Friday morning, and her peers met her with a standing ovation.
“Sgt. Hafley is an example to all of us in overcoming adversity,” said Capt. Jeannie Snyder.
The support from fellow officers has been overwhelming, Hafley said.
“This is one thing I believe that has brought the police family together. Normally they’ve never been able to help with an officer in need. In my case, it’s different because I wanted them with me. It’s like you’re my family, I want you with me,” she said.
Hafley will work in the pawn unit helping to find stolen goods and aid in returning them back to their rightful owners while she continues to battle cancer.
“I’m going to go ahead and live my life,” she said.
The SWAT team was recognized with the Life Saving Award for its effort to help rescue 8-year-old Andrew Ellis, who survived the April 27, 2011, tornadoes in Apison. Three of his family members perished.
Officer Christopher Blackwell was also given the award for saving a man who was choking on a piece of chicken. Blackwell was able to perform the Heimlich maneuver to the dislodge the piece of food.
With the exception of the Chief’s Award, all awards are made through co-worker or supervisor nominations for overall hard work or recognition on certain calls.