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Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell, center, shakes hands with Engineer Ronald Alston, at right, as he presents the Veteran Officer Award to him. At left is Young Officer of the Year recipient Luis Vazquez. — Karen Kistler

Paramedic Carlos Walker, right, receives the Veteran EMS Award from Paramedic Darin Sifford. – Karen Kistler

Rotary President Karen Hobson listens as Salisbury Police Chief P.J. Smith, far right, introduces award recipients Officer Kenneth Battle-Hay, left, and Sergeant Neal Brown. – Karen Kistler

Master Trooper Eric B. Perdue shows his Veteran Officer of the Year Award. — Karen Kistler

Rowan County Sheriff’s Deputy William Ryan Walker, left and Corporal William Gray Johnson display their awards. – Karen Kistler

EMT Lisa Bramblett , right receves the Young Officer of the Year Award from Paramedic Darin Sifford. — Karen Kistler

Karen Kistler

karen.kistler@salisburypost.com

Local community heroes were recognized during the annual Salisbury Rotary Club’s Public Safety Awards luncheon.

A large crowd gathered for the special event, which was held at the Rotary Hut on March 18 at 12:30 p.m. during which time, a veteran officer and a young officer of the year from each public safety agency was honored, a distinction that was chosen by their co-workers.

The agencies include the Salisbury Police Department, Salisbury Fire Department, Rowan County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Rowan County Emergency Medical Services. 

Following the opening portion of the meeting, Salisbury Rotary President Karen Hobson said, “we love this day” as she welcomed those in attendance for the Public Safety Awards and the family members that were in attendance with them. She then turned the program over to Salisbury City Attorney Graham Corriher who said, “the club always looks forward to this program every year” noting that it has been a longstanding program for the club.

“It’s always been a really special thing for us to take a moment and say thank you,” which he took the opportunity to do to all of the professionals and their families that were with them on this day.

Corriher shared some statistics with the crowd from a council presentation that had been made several months ago. These statistics, from last year, were from the Salisbury Police and Fire departments, adding that he didn’t have statistics from the county, state highway patrol or EMS, “but I bet they tell the same story,” he said.

For the Salisbury Fire Department last year, Corriher said there were 9,055 emergency calls last year and for the police last year, there were 47,348 calls for service with thousands of reports generated from those calls.

“That’s what these men and women are out there doing for us,” said Corriher. “So consider those as you hear from these individuals” after which he introduced each chief who then introduced the recipients from their particular department.

First to the podium was Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith who called the recipients to also come forward to share both information about them along with the plaques. 

The Young Officer of the Year Award was presented to Officer Kenneth Battle-Hay, who, Smith said, has been with the department for almost four years and joined after retiring from a 10-year career in the United States Marine Corps.

“He is always willing to help when needed,” said Smith, and often comes in on his off day to help, he added, sharing one such example of this.

It was during one of his days off that a call came in about a four-week old infant not breathing. Just moments after the call came in, he was the first to arrive on the scene where this was happening. Finding other adults attempting to perform CPR, he jumped in to help, and picked up the infant and applied some back blows. The infant cried but then went quiet, Smith said. Battle-Hay repeated the procedure, and the infant began to cry, which reassured them the baby was breathing. Fire and EMS arrived and the baby was taken to the hospital.

Thanks to his life-saving measures, Smith said, the baby is healthy and the family was able to celebrate a happy first holiday all together.

The Veteran Officer of the Year Award was presented to Sergeant Neal Brown, who has served with the department since 2004 following a long career in the military, serving in the United States Marine Corps and Army.

Smith pointed out Brown’s dedication to professionalism every day, always interacting in a professional manner with citizens and coworkers.

He also said that “Brown sets an example of what dedication and dependability should be and it’s difficult to spend a day in Salisbury and not see him in uniform.”

In speaking of his dependability, Smith said it’s more than just being punctual but said, “you can always count on a quality performance no matter the task at hand.”

His great leadership for Adam Team were also commended as he said that Brown is dedicated to make sure each team member is treated fairly and provided with opportunities to learn and thrive and goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Salisbury Fire Department Chief Bob Parnell came next to introduce the award recipients for the fire department.

The first award, the Young Firefighter of the Year, went to Luis Vazquez, who, Parnell said, had some experience before he completed his rookie training at RCCC in 2024 and therefore, “came in well-versed and didn’t skip a beat and came in very strongly as a dedicated firefighter who excels on the fire grounds and works extremely hard.”

In his nomination, it was noted that his dedication, work ethic and resilience are commendable along with showing bravery and commitment during emergency responses.

Parnell shared a story of when Vazquez was assigned to Engine 3, which had been dispatched to a call involving an emotionally disturbed individual. Upon arriving they found the individual had jumped headfirst into the police vehicle and they helped to subdue the person so an arrest could be made and were awarded a Medal of Valor by the police department for their action.

The veteran firefighter award went to Engineer Ronald Alston, who has been on the job for 23 years, serving first as a firefighter and the remainder of his time as an engineer, and said he is an excellent fire engineer.

Parnell said that Alston “has been such a positive influence in the Salisbury Fire Department. We are blessed because he has been a leader the entire time but not wearing the captain’s badge or the chief’s badge and he’s done a great, great job.”

Called a quiet leader because you don’t hear much out of him, Parnell said there has never been a complaint and no drama with Alston, who he added leads by example and is a great role model for others.

Parnell pointed out that the engineer is the one who drives the truck, which is important and “due to the skill and ability of the driver.”

Next up was Sheriff Travis Allen who called forward the two recipients from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.

He first acknowledged Corporal William Gray Johnson, who was awarded the Young Officer of the Year. Born and raised in Salisbury, he was first hired by the Salisbury Police Department in 2020, and received basic law enforcement training. 

In 2021, he came to the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy on C squad and was later assigned to another squad working night shift as a patrol deputy. In 2024, Johnson was promoted to corporal on this squad where he continues to serve the county. 

During his time with the department, Allen noted that Johnson has completed numerous hours of specialized training and has received two sheriff’s commendations awards for bravery and valor and a lifesaving award.

Allen pointed out that Johnson possesses several qualities that he says are valuable, including being cool and calm.

The Veteran Officer Award for the sheriff’s office was presented to Deputy William Ryan Walker.

Allen said that when he thinks of public services, it’s not just the law enforcement edge but also community and Walker encompasses all areas.

Walker, he said, is very involved with the youth in the community and started the Shop with a Cop program about 12 years ago. He and his family and involved with this program and because of their actions, “hundreds of local children in Salisbury and Rowan Count have been able to have Christmas.”

He and his family are also involved with other community events including the Trunk or Treat, “not getting paid or accolades, but it’s something they have a heart and passion for,” said Allen.

Walker completed basic law enforcement training and first joined as a reserve officer. He was hired full time in 2001 and worked as a court bailiff. In 2021, he became a resources officer, which he continues doing today. He started at West Rowan Middle School and after transferring to other schools, he is now serving in that role at Faith Charter Academy, is their baseball coach and is active at First Presbyterian Church in Kannapolis.

Allen said it’s “important that we minister to our community not just by enforcing the law but by giving our community positive influence and positive contacts and I can’t think of anyone who does it better than Walker.”

The Rowan County Emergency Medical Services Chief is Allen Cress and division chief is Bryan Edwards. Corriher said that due to a scheduling conflict, the EMS chief was unable to attend, and Paramedic Darin Sifford filled in to announce the recipients for the Rowan County Emergency Medical Services.

Sifford presented the first award to EMT Lisa Bramblett, who he said has been his partner for about six months. She is an EMT Basic and plans to advance to get her advanced EMT. 

“She comes to work with a great attitude and willingness to learn and an overall great partner,” he said.

The Veteran Officer Award was presented to Carlos Walker, who has been with EMS since 2018, Sifford said and is a Paramedic FTO. He noted that Walker is with tactical squad medics and is a paramedic preceptor. 

“He is a great leader, friend and all-around great person,” he said.

First Sergeant Clent Stevens with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol presented the Veteran Officer Award to Master Trooper Eric B. Perdue.

“I am honored to have this man standing beside me,” he said as he began by sharing Perdue’s work history, telling that he “is a rarity to find in the highway patrol.”

Stevens shared that Perdue has served with the highway patrol for 25 years, all of them in Rowan County, “that is dedicated years of service to you.”

He noted that it’s rare for someone to stay in one county their entire career, which is what this is for Perdue, he said, adding that it’s “not just a job and he has shown that throughout the years.”

Perdue is deeply rooted in the community and has built relationships in the community and is a leader in the district, Stevens said.

“He is a voice that matters,” he added, telling that Perdue has served as an FTO and trained many troopers, “is an example with his work, and is somebody that supervisors lean on.”

He also mentors younger troopers helping them to learn, preparing them.

Perdue mentors those younger and helps them understand and learn, teaching and preparing them.

Steven posed the question, “So why is he our veteran officer of the year?”

Because for 25 years, Perdue has served, said Stevens. “He has served well. He has served each of you. He has been a friend. He’s been a mentor. He has been a leader and he has saved countless lives through his efforts.”

Hobson thanked all of the chiefs and officers and said “we appreciate what you all do” and the meeting concluded with a standing ovation.

As Corriher was providing statistics earlier in the program, he said perhaps some are not into numbers, so he encouraged them to think about when they hear a siren, to think about “what they are are doing at the time and when you hear that say a little thank you for all these men and women that are out there, protecting your friends, protecting your family, coming to save you.”