CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Law enforcement officers and agencies from across the state got some much deserved recognition Friday with the 2013 U.S. Attorney’s Law Enforcement and Victim Assistance Awards ceremony.
“It recognizes law enforcement officers who really put their lives on the line every single day,” said U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.
During the ceremony at the Robert C. Byrd Federal Courthouse in Charleston Goodwin handed out various awards to honor those who have made significant contributions on behalf of the criminal justice system..
“Consistently, day after day, week after week, year after year, these people put it on the line every single day,” Goodwin said.
The ceremony was dedicated to West Virginia State Troopers Cpl. Marshall Bailey and Eric Workman who were shot and killed in the line of duty last year near Wallback. They both received posthumous awards for their role in a major drug case.
“They were engaged at the time of their death in an investigation that was honored here,” said Goodwin. “Their dedication and service really exemplifies the dedication and service of all the law enforcement officers who were recognized.”
Family members of Bailey and Workman were present at the ceremony to receive the awards. Another honor handed out was the Law Enforcement Agency of the Year given to the West Virginia State Police.
State Police Superintendent Col. Jay Smithers received the award on behalf of the agency. He said the agency has great people but it’s been a team effort.
“In my 40 plus years in this line of work I truly have never seen a better collaborative effort between the other agencies throughout the state,” he said.
Goodwin handed out awards for outstanding law enforcement work on major cases involving drug crime, violent crime, workplace safety, and child exploitation.
Also honored was FBI Special Agent Joseph Ciccarelli who received the Exceptional Career Service Award. Ciccarelli, a 28-year veteran of the FBI, will retire in January 2014. Fellow coworker FBI Special Agent James Lafferty was presented with the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. It was the first time the honor was given.
Smithers said these ceremonies are very important.
“It’s seems like when one in the law enforcement community makes a mistake, we are held to a higher standard, which we accept and we understand that, but it’s nice to be recognized for the good things that we do,” he said.
More than 60 law enforcement officers, victim advocates, and community leaders were honored during Friday’s ceremony.