Superintendent Col. Terrence Sheridan and state police troopers
- Occupation: Maryland State Police
- Home: Pikesville
- Achievement: State troopers and civilian support personnel headed to Louisiana this week to help people who affected by Hurricane Gustav. The troopers were called upon as part of the interstate Emergency Management Assistance Compact, in which officials from Louisiana requested help through the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The team of 20 state troopers and two communications technicians left Tuesday morning, with supplies in hand, and drove to Livingston Parish, the jurisdiction requesting assistance, where the troopers are providing curfew enforcement and shelter security. The team is expected to provide support for at least five days.
“We are proud to be part of Maryland’s response to help those in need in Louisiana. At Gov. [Martin] O’Malley’s direction, 20 state troopers and two communication technicians are on their way to Livingston Parish to help local law enforcement in an area of 700 square miles, half of which is under water.”
Tony Spencer
- Occupation: Director of Annapolis’ Office of Youth and Community Affairs
- Home: Annapolis
- Achievement: Spencer recently teamed up with nonprofit Kids at Hope to provide a workshop on creating a supportive environment for youths to succeed at the Boys and Girls Club of Annapolis and Anne Arundel. The workshop taught parents, school representatives and youth organizations about early child development and also trained employees to help children succeed academically and socially. Spencer, a former Anne Arundel school Board member, said he saw firsthand the challenges children faced in school while struggling at home. His current role promotes community involvement and partnerships with grassroots organizations, the educational community, faith communities, and other local, state and federal government agencies.
“If you encourage a kid to believe in himself, you create a sense of worth that child never had and that follows them throughout the rest of their life. If they believe in themselves, they can’t be beaten down. It’s a culture, a change in thinking, how to nurture kids is not a one time thing.”
Shirley Bigley LaMotte
- Occupation: Chief executive officer of Baltimore Reads Inc.
- Home: Baltimore City
- Achievement: LaMotte was appointed to serve on the Baltimore City Workforce Investment Board by Baltimore City Mayor Sheila Dixon. The board addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the city’s current and future labor market by setting workforce policies and priorities, and guiding employment and training services for employers and city residents. The nonprofit LaMotte leads offers literacy services to families for economic and social empowerment.
“Baltimore Reads provides training in basic reading, writing, math and employment readiness skills. My goal in serving on [Baltimore City Workforce Investment Board] is to help the city’s economic growth by increasing skilled workers to meet the needs of Baltimore’s employers.”
Lt. Norm Milligan
- Occupation: Anne Arundel Police Traffic Safety Unit commander
- Home: Pasadena
- Achievement: Back to school means traffic safety officers are working overtime to monitor the safety of children who are loading on and off school buses each day and ensure motorists stop for stopped buses. A School Bus Safety Enforcement Grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention provides funding for four officers in the morning and four in the afternoon on randomly selected days each month. Those who violate the traffic laws are given a warning letter and may be issued a citation for additional complaints.
“We have a huge amount of pedestrian traffic with the school buses, and this is something else we can do to provide added safety for children.”
William McMahon
- Occupation: Howard County Police Department chief
- Home: Ellicott City
- Achievement: The annual Howard County Police Pace 5K Race and 1 Mile Walk, beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday in Columbia’s Centennial Park, helps to fund charitable projects that are not otherwise possible under the county budget. Proceeds from the race, which is sponsored by the Howard County Police Foundation, a business-sponsored, nonprofit that improves the quality of life and police service in Howard, go to a college scholarship program in honor of officers who died in the line of duty. The program helps children of fallen officers to receive a college education.
“The proceeds from Police Pace enable our police foundation to help officers and their families after a tragedy occurs. I am proud of the event’s success through the years and grateful for the community’s continued support.”
