The Winslow Elks Lodge recently honored 15 public service personnel from the Winslow Police Department, the Winslow Fire Department, the Arizona Department of Corrections in Winslow, the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Those honored were presented awards at a meeting at the Elks Lodge, and the Winslow Police and Fire Department awardees were honored at a Winslow City Council meeting.

Sergeant Kenneth Williams received the award as an employee of the Arizona State Prison Complex in Winslow. He was cited by Warden Betty L. Larson as a true professional and an asset to the Department of Corrections. She listed a number of things he has done to make him an exceptional officer, including volunteering to be a Correctional Officer Training Academy advisor in Tucson in 2011. He is a senior firearms instructor and gives remedial classes for those who need further assistance.

Deputy Brenda Clark received the award for a member of the Navajo County Sheriff’s Office. She has taken a strong stance in civil services in the Winslow area. Deputy Clark is credited with having assisted the county in locating and collecting back taxes for the county in excess of $81,000. She is well liked in the area and respected by her peers.

Officer James Curnutte of the Arizona Department of Public Safety received the award for that organization. He is a native of Winslow and has worked in the area for his nine-year career with the department. He has shown a good working relationship with other officers, and with other police agencies, fire departments and rescue operations. He is involved in the community and currently is the Winslow Little League president.

At the March 10 council meeting Kathy Contreras of the Elks read letters to those receiving awards, including Firefighter Ector Aguilar, Detectives Alicia Marquez, Quentin Hayes and Joseph Marquez, Lt. Jim Sepi, Sgt. Ernie Cano, Cpt. Chuck Hodge, Dispatcher Belle Dalton, Support Staff Shannon Long, and Officers Carl Calnimptewa, Lawrence Dashee and Austin Shipley. All police personnel were involved in apprehending the alleged Masonic Temple, Clark Cleaners and Woman’s Club arsonists.

Fire Chief James Hernandez wrote that Ector Aguilar represents to the highest degree of what he believes everyone wants from an employee. He said that he is willing to go the extra mile to complete a task.