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November 7, 2009

Stearns rides roller-coaster year to top police honor

Mark Schlachtenhaufen

EDMOND — It’s been an up and down year for Jason Stearns.

Earlier this year, the press documented the story about the Edmond Police officer’s daughter’s battle with leukemia.

This summer, Stearns was honored for his role in saving the life of a 10-month-old Edmond boy who was choking on a penny.

In September, Stearns earned a promotion from officer to detective.

Thursday night, during the annual Edmond Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association officer appreciation banquet at Oak Tree National, Stearns was named the Edmond Police Department’s Employee of the Year and Officer of the Year.

Stearns’ fellow officers nominated candidates.

Police Chief Bob Ricks introduced Stearns, saying he was an ideal choice who reflects the department’s values.

Stearns said it had been a rough year for his family, but announced that his daughter, Kennedy, was back in school — an improvement. Stearns said he appreciates what he has at the Police Department, lifelong friends.

“That means more to us than you guys know,” Stearns said.

In 1996, Stearns joined the department as a traffic officer. He then became a motorcycle officer and a field training officer. He currently serves on the SWAT Team. Stearns has been named departmental Employee of the Month twice.

Other award winners were: Supervisor of the Year Sgt. Paul Barbour, Investigator of the Year Detective Christy Meadows, Special Services Employee of the Year Jason Farley and Blooper of the Year Detective Rockie Yardley.

During the past year, in addition to Stearns, Marion Cain and Greg Hunt were promoted to detective. Derick Pickard and Chad Langley were promoted to sergeant, Bob Pratt was promoted to lieutenant and Larry Campbell was promoted to captain.

Stearns, Officer Derek Kennedy, Officer Josh Smith, Officer Jeff Meadows, Officer Curtis Thompson and Officer Paul Lakin all received a Lifesaving Award.

Officer J.L. Collar, Officer Kendall Miller, Thompson, Officer James Hamm, Officer Jimmy Gwartney, Officer Dan Butcher, Officer Milo Box, Officer Tim Owen, Officer Jeff Meadows and Officer Tim Ivy all received the Oklahoma Buckle-Down Award.

Detective Mark Oak, who was assigned 102 cases and cleared 96 of them, received the Kiwanis Officer of the Year of Award.

Ricks thanked all of the events sponsors, including gold sponsor Perfection Truck Parts & Equipment. He also thanked the city’s elected officials in attendance.

Mayor Patrice Douglas said her family prays for the city’s police officers every morning and she offers an additional prayer each night.

“Thank you for your service to Edmond. Thank you for what you do for this town,” Douglas said.

Keynote speaker Don Udell, academy coordinator for the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training, told the audience that freedom is not free and there is a cost to serving communities like Edmond.

Udell said he thanks God for the department’s higher standards, that the traits of honor, loyalty, commitment, honesty, trust and integrity are missing in many police officers elsewhere. A police officer’s commitment includes being willing to lay down their life for someone else, he said.

The alumni association’s mission is to: Increase public support for the Police Department, to improve relations between the public and the EPD and to educate the public about the function and role of the Citizens Police Academy.



marks@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108

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MARK SCHLACHTENHAUFEN | THE EDMOND SUN Edmond Police Officer Bryan Weathers observes while the cadets use their department-issued Remington pump action shotguns to site targets 100 yards away.

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