Staunton Deputy Named City Employee Of The Year - July 19

Staunton Deputy Named City Employee Of The Year

Darrell Carter took the initiative to save a child from a four-story fall.



Darrell W. Carter Jr., a 17-year veteran of the Staunton Sheriff's Department, was named Wednesday night as the City of Staunton's 2007 Employee of the Year.

Deputy Carter was honored for his actions last summer in saving a young child from falling off a motel balcony four floors above the ground.

In making the announcement, Staunton City Manager Steve Owen said, "Deputy Carter didn't have to think about it. There was an emergency. He could do something, so he did. By caring, by quickly taking the initiative, he may have saved the life of a little boy. We are delighted and proud that he is a city employee.

"His actions and his commitment to his community reflect well on the Sheriff's Department, and on all other Staunton city employees."

Deputy Carter was selected from among more than two-dozen men and women honored as "Employee of the Month" in the city's various departments and agencies over the past year. Selection is by the city's 10-person Employee Recognition Committee. The Committee was established to recognize employees who give outstanding service to the city. Nominations of outstanding employees are made by fellow employees.

About 8:30 p.m. on a warm mid-July day last summer, Staunton police dispatchers were alerted to a child playing alone on a fourth-floor outside walkway at the Howard Johnson's on Central Avenue. They ordered a police officer to the scene and, moments later, told the officer that the child had climbed to the top of the balcony railing. Deputy Carter happened to be nearby on other duties and overheard the call. He raced to the scene and up to the fourth-floor walkway and was able to catch the adventurous four-year-old boy before the child fell to the concrete below.

Deputy Carter and responding police officers then determined that the child's caretaker had fallen asleep in a motel room and was unaware the child was outside. Charges were later placed in the incident.

Deputy Carter, a Staunton resident who is married and has children of his own, was named Employee of the Month for the Sheriff's Department last August.

Other employees of the month for the past 12 months are:



August 2006 - Stephanie Chapman - Social Services; Mike King - Police; Darrell Carter - Sheriff's Department



September 2006 - Phyllis Vess- Public Library



October 2006 - Mark Holland - Public Works



November 2006 - Matt Jarrell - Public Works; Mark Buchanan - Public Works; Penny Spearman - Social Services; Billy Davis - Public Works; Ricky Botkin - Public Works



December 2006 - Carl Wilson - Public Works; Susan Croft - Social Services; Nathan Simmons - Public Works



February 2007- Steve Tabscott – Public Library; Donna Hevener - Social Services



March 2007 - James Corbett - Parks & Recreation; Kim Whitmore-Werner - Social Services; Sarah Wilcher - Social Services; Mike Myers - Fire Department



April 2007 - Mary McNamara - Social Services; Chris Hartless - Police; Judy Inlow - Commonwealth Attorney's Office



May 2007 - John Fields - Public Works; Ronnie Whisman - Sheriff's Department



June 2007 - Timmy Hevener - Public Works; John Evans - Public Works; Brenda Orebaugh - City Manager's Office



The Employee of the Year Award was presented to Deputy Carter at the annual Employee Recognition Dinner Wednesday night at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel. Carter will also receive a $1,000 savings bond and an extra week vacation.