ALBERT WINS THE SOLICITOR’S AWARD FOR CHEROKEE LAW ENFORCEMENT EXCELLENCE

A veteran South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper is the recipient of the 2008 Solicitor’s Award for Cherokee County.

Cpl. Bobby Joe Albert accepted the award tonight at a law enforcement appreciation dinner in Gaffney.

Albert’s prize package includes a nice plaque, the use of BMW for a weekend and tickets to a University of South Carolina football game. He will also have his name added to a plaque that hangs in the Cherokee County Solicitor’s Office.

A committee of police officers from city, county, and state agencies nominated and named the Cherokee County winner. The finalists for the award – Matt Gordon of the Blacksburg Police Department; Ron Ramsey of the Gaffney Police Department, Christy Poole of the Gaffney Police Department and Trooper Bo Caughmann of the S.C. Highway Patrol were recognized at the banquet. Sheriff’s Deputy Ronnie Painter was also recognized with a perseverance award for his efforts to return to duty after being critically injured in a car wreck in 2006. Painter is the first recipient of an award named in his honor. The Painter Award will be given to other deserving officers in the future.

Albert’s award nomination cited his detail-oriented work as a patrol shift supervisor and 22 years of service in the South Carolina National Guard. Albert, a command sergeant major, has been deployed twice since America was targeted by terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. He recently returned from “Operation Enduring Freedom,” an assignment in Afghanistan from February 2007 until July 2008. He served in Bosnia from November 2002 to October 2003.

During his recent deployment, Albert was part of a command team that supervised 640 or more officers in combat zones and other assignments. Albert’s numerous military honors include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service, U.S. Army Good Conduct, NATO Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

“The duality of Bobby Joe’s public service is impressive,” Solicitor Gowdy said. “He has dedicated to his professional life to safety of his community and our nation.”

Albert began his law enforcement career with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department in 1990. He joined the Highway Patrol in 1994 and he was promoted to corporal in September of 2000.

Generous donations by some community leaders helped make the evening a success. The donor list includes Aegean Pizza, Applebees, Associates Bookkkeeping & Tax Service, Bill Mason Enterprises (McDonald’s), Bill’s Lock & Key, Blackley Funeral Home, BMW Manufacturing Corp., Brannon’s Seafood, Broad River Electrical Cooperative, Broncos, Brown’s Butcher Shop, Buford Street/ACE Hardware, Carolina Collision, Carousel Music, Carolina Chicken, Charlotte Bobcats, Clear Water Pools, Colonial Fish Camp, Cracker Barrel, Curves, Custom Embroidery, Dee Tee’s, Earl’s Speed & Custom, Enterprise, Frame Depot, Gaffney Fitness, Gene’s Pit Stop, Hamrick’s, Hartzog’s, Hawg and Dawg, Highway 11 Grille, Hollywood’s Productions, House of Pizza, Ingles, Jameson Inn, Joy Drive Inn, Logan Street Hotdogs, Lowe’s, Magic Nail, Meineke, Mike’s Corner/Mike’s Café, Minnesota Vikings, Mr. Danny Stacy Mr. Ed Mabry, Mr. Waffle Truck Stop #104, Munchies, Outback Steakhouse, Nestle USA, Painter’s Heating, Papa G’s, Pete’s, Phoenix Racing, Pizza Inn, Prestige Brake & Alignment, Ruby Tuesday, Starbucks, Substation II, T.C.’s Creative Expressions, Thicketty Station, Timken, Total Definitions, Upstate Carolina Medical Center, Westlane Bowling and Wright’s Photo, WYFF, Yeargin Photography, Your Best Body and Zaxby’s.

“I appreciate the community’s willingness to support such a worthy cause.” Gowdy said. “Police officers and their families richly deserve a night of rest and relaxation for the many sacrifices they make to keep the community safe.