Norfolk County Sheriff's Officers Win Statewide Awards
Dec 29, 2014 05:17AM ● By Pamela Johnson
Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti
Two correction officers from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office were recognized for outstanding job performance at the recent ceremony of the Correctional Employee of the Year awards.
Officers James Kelley and Jeffrey Russell were honored with the Meritorious Recognition award for their part in helping police capture an armed robber after a string of store holdups.
“Officers Kelley and Russell responded in textbook fashion to a dangerous situation and helped the police arrest the suspect and get a gun off the street,” Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti said. “These officers followed their training to the letter, and we are extremely proud to have them wearing our uniform.”
On July 12, 2013, Kelley and Russell were transporting inmates between courts when they saw a car matching a description broadcasted earlier that day in connection with a liquor store holdup in Abington. They broke off their original route and followed the car from a discreet distance while radioing their location to the State Police. The state troopers followed their radio transmissions and ultimately took over pursuit of the gunman, and Officers Kelley and Russell reversed direction and resumed their regular duties.
“Without their alert response and willingness to follow a man known to be armed and dangerous, this criminal might still be at large,” Public Safety Undersecretary Sandra McCroom said at the Nov. 17 awards ceremony at the State House.
The citations presented to Kelley and Russell marked the ninth time in the last 11 years that officers from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office were honored at the annual statewide Correctional Employee of the Year awards.Nor
Officers James Kelley and Jeffrey Russell were honored with the Meritorious Recognition award for their part in helping police capture an armed robber after a string of store holdups.
“Officers Kelley and Russell responded in textbook fashion to a dangerous situation and helped the police arrest the suspect and get a gun off the street,” Norfolk County Sheriff Michael Bellotti said. “These officers followed their training to the letter, and we are extremely proud to have them wearing our uniform.”
On July 12, 2013, Kelley and Russell were transporting inmates between courts when they saw a car matching a description broadcasted earlier that day in connection with a liquor store holdup in Abington. They broke off their original route and followed the car from a discreet distance while radioing their location to the State Police. The state troopers followed their radio transmissions and ultimately took over pursuit of the gunman, and Officers Kelley and Russell reversed direction and resumed their regular duties.
“Without their alert response and willingness to follow a man known to be armed and dangerous, this criminal might still be at large,” Public Safety Undersecretary Sandra McCroom said at the Nov. 17 awards ceremony at the State House.
The citations presented to Kelley and Russell marked the ninth time in the last 11 years that officers from the Norfolk Sheriff’s Office were honored at the annual statewide Correctional Employee of the Year awards.Nor
