Chattanooga police officers recognized in department's annual award ceremony

More than 30 officers and a handful of civilians were recipients of the Chattanooga Police Department's annual awards during a ceremony Thursday evening.

Each year, the department recognizes officers, civilian employees and community members "for their their life-saving efforts and dedication to making Chattanooga a better, safer place to live."

"Tonight is celebration of where your 'whys' moved into actions," police Chief David Roddy said.

He was talking about the "why" that drives law enforcement officers to get up every day and do their job, no matter what the day may bring.

"You have really dedicated your lives - your why - to keeping our streets in our neighborhoods safe," said Julie Munz Baumgardner, CEO of First Things First, who was the guest speaker. "You really are so amazing for our community."

She acknowledged family members who "understand why you jump out of a car on vacation to run to the scene of an accident," she said. "They are heroes too."

"On any given day, you see things that rip your hearts out, and you see things that really make you proud of our community and the people who live here," Baumgardner said. "And you treat every single one of us with respect and dignity."

And then came time for the awards. As soon as the first name was called, the audience erupted in cheers and applause.

Investigator Topping is taking on the opioid crisis in our community head-on," said WRCB-TV reporter Michelle Heron, who emceed the event. "He's worked tirelessly to figure out how to combat the the problem."

Topping has emphasized holding drug dealers accountable for what is in their product.

Over the last year, his investigations have led to the indictment of three people for homicide for allegedly selling narcotics that led to the overdose deaths of people.

Several officers received the Life Saving Award, for acts ranging from performing CPR on non-responsive people, to applying tourniquets on severe trauma patients, to applying life-saving pressure to victims with gunshot wounds.

One of the more severe cases was during a call for an injure pedestrian earlier this year.

Officers Joseph Seech, Charlie Decker and Eric Scaife arrived on scene and found a woman whose leg was nearly severed from above the knee. The officers restrained the woman, who was in severe pain, and applied a tourniquet to her leg as they waited for emergency personnel.

Hospital staff said their actions saved her life that day.

A handful of other officers were recognized for their actions in saving the lives of suicidal people.

Before the ceremony was over, Roddy took time to remember two officers who died this year - one who died unexpectedly in his home, Sgt. John Monroe, and one in a fatal hit-and-run, Officer Nicholas Galinger.

"[In your] relentless pursuit of justice ... may you all be reminded of why you do what you do," Baumgardner said. "You are our heroes."

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