Staff Sgt. Christopher Ollis, a patrol officer on Fort Jackson, is congratulated by Lt. Col. Johnny Sellers, director of the post's emergency services, and Fort Jackson Police Chief Ruben Santiago after being awarded a Community Service Award at the ...

Fort Jackson Police Department Chief Ruben Santiago congratulates Ms. Melissa Draper, a police dispatcher, for being awarded the department's Civilian of the Year Award during a ceremony Jan. 20 at Magruders Pub on post. (U.S. Army photo by Robert Ti...

Fort Jackson Police Department Chief Ruben Santiago, right, hugs Officer Lionel L. Brown during the department's first awards program Jan. 20 at Magruders Pub on post. Brown received a Community Service Award for his dealings with Fort Jackson School...

Fort Jackson runs smoothly by those who most people don't often think of unless they are doing wrong -- police officers.

The installation's police department held its first awards presentation Friday to honor those Soldiers and civilians who keep the post safe.

"Tonight is about honoring you all in our profession of policing and law enforcement," said Lt. Col. Johnny Sellers, director of Fort Jackson's emergency services. "For all of us it is this career of service to our nation, community, and the people we serve. We are held to a higher standard that sometimes may not seem fair, but can take it as a compliment.

"You have been and will be called upon to display courage in the face of adversity," Sellers said.

Soldiers and police officers earned a variety of awards ranging from being proficient at shooting, in excellent physical shape, conducting their jobs with utmost professionalism, and being a premier example to the Fort Jackson community.

One of the awards was named after Lt. Willie Wallace who passed last year. That award was given to the Soldier or officer who displayed the highest professionalism in their jobs.

Fort Jackson Police Chief Ruben Santiago said the award was presented to the employee who was most like Wallace.

"When we look back at 2016 and starting to recognize how great our team was, we started to recognize really quickly individuals who really exude professionalism. Every day they came in they had a great smile and attitude" like Lt. Wallace, Santiago said.

"As soon as you met Lt. Willie Wallace you instantly became his friend … not one day went by when he was working shifts that he didn't always have a positive attitude."

Wallace's family was at the award ceremony to watch the award be presented.

Santiago lauded the efforts of his force adding everyone in the department should strive to get closer to the community as one of the efforts going into 2017.

Santiago called Officer of the Year Award as "deserving of almost everyone in our department. We look at what they do in the law enforcement community, but really enhance how the organization is evolving."

Officer Joseph Al-Shaer won that award.

Santiago said during the event that the department will continue to look forward in 2017.

"We have a school resource officer slash community liaison," he said about plans for the year. "But it's our responsibility to all be community liaisons. To help motivate that, we are going to start giving each squad specific tasks to get involved with the community and talk to different folks."

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Sidebar:

Physical Fitness Award

Officer Raymond P. Meals

Officer Keith A. Sutton

Staff Sgt. Martina M. Moore

Sgt. Kevin C. Wells

Marksmanship Award

Officer Samuel C. Knowles

Staff Sgt. Christopher C. Ollis

Civic Award

Investigator Zachary J. Jenkins

Staff Sgt. Johnathan R. Berta

Community Service Award

Staff Sgt. Christopher C. Ollis

Officer Lionel L. Brown

Police Shield Award

Investigator Roni L. Fiscus

Investigator Carlos E. Monday

Chief Award for Excellence

Melanie Collins

Civilian of the Year Award

Ms. Melissa M. Draper

Rookie of the Year

Spc. Nicolas F. George

Officer of the Year

Officer Joseph S. Al-Shaer

Lt. Willie Wallace Award for Professionalism

Sgt. Joel J. Henry