A 15-year veteran of the Alexandria Sheriffs Office has been honored by the Alexandria Jaycees with the William G. Truesdale Award.
Deputy Chris ODell was presented his latest honor by Sheriff Dana Lawhorne, Mayor Bill Euille and Jaycees President Amy Tenhouse during Community Appreciation Night in the Sister Cities Room of City Hall on May 18.
ODell was cited by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce for his heroism along with four other deputies on April 30. Deputy Truesdale was killed in 1981 trying to prevent the escape of a dangerous prisoner.
Other recipients of the Jaycees honors were:
Tina Marie Jones, parking enforcement supervisor, was honored by Deputy Police Chief Cleveland Spruill for her mentoring of new and veteran employees and outstanding community service. She received the Charles W. Hill Award. Hill died in the line of duty in 1989.
Jeremy McPike, a 10-year city employe, received the E. Judith Krasnow Award from City Manager Jim Hartmann for outstanding work as Division Chief of the General Service Departments Capital Project Division.
Ashley Ehrhart, an emergency management specialist for the Alexandria Fire Department, was presented the James E. Shortt Award by Fire Chief Adam Thiel. She was lauded for her work in assisting the city in times of disaster and for developing the new city-wide emergency operations plan. She also recovered over $1.5 million from FEMA for the citys response to the June 2006 floods.
Keisha Boggan,principal of George Washington Middle School, received the George Talmadge Webber Award from Assistant School Superintendent John Porter for her distinguished work with students, parents and community members. A native Alexandrian, she was also cited for her service as a role model for all young people.
