An alert Redstone police sergeant who discovered a potential case of child endangerment was among the honorees at quarterly Garrison awards ceremony April 25.

Sgt. Catherine Ritchey on Jan. 12 responded to a call regarding a driver who was suspected to be under the influence of drugs at Gate 9. While apprehending the woman, who was under the influence of drugs and had more drugs in the vehicle, Ritchey observed a child’s empty car seat.

“I just happened to notice it was a car seat and I thought ‘where was this child,’” Ritchey said. She contacted local police and asked them to go by the woman’s house in Jackson County to check on things. They found the woman’s 3-year-old daughter at home alone amid feces.

“She just left her home alone, all by herself. I said, ‘oh my God,’” Ritchey, with Redstone Police Department 28 years, said.

Ritchey received the Civilian Service Achievement Medal presented by Garrison Commander Col. Erin Eike. According to the honorary award’s narrative, her actions “potentially saved the child from profound risk of danger and reflects great credit upon herself, the Directorate of Emergency Services, the United States Army Garrison-Redstone, the Installation Management Command, the Army Materiel Command and the United States Army.”

After the ceremony, Ritchey was congratulated by Police Maj. Derek Campbell, the Redstone Police Officer of the Year for 2024.

“It’s an award for noticing that something was wrong and working to make it right,” Ritchey said. “My team that I work with, it was a team effort. It wasn’t just me.”

The Garrison third quarter fiscal 2025 awards ceremony

Garrison Commander Col. Erin Eike presents an Officially Commended award to Brian Raney, of the Directorate of Public Works, during the quarterly awards ceremony April 25.

Police Maj. Derek Campbell, the Redstone Police Officer of the Year for 2024, congratulates Police Sgt. Catherine Ritchey. She received a Civilian Service Achievement Medal during the quarterly Garrison awards ceremony April 25 at Bob Jones Auditorium.

at Bob Jones Auditorium included presentations of civilian service pins, length of service awards and honorary awards.

“I’m really excited to recognize some outstanding individuals here today,” Eike said. “Thank you for what you do. You’re a phenomenal team.”

Honorees included the following:

  • Army civilian service pins, bronze civilian service, one year: Kristian Espina and Jordan Persano
  • Army civilian service pins, silver civilian service, 10 years: Joshua Elmore, Mike Moore and Matthew Sisk
  • Five years of service awards: David Francies, Holly Gallier, Tawanda Humphrey, James Martinson, Ochieng Oyoo, Emily Sill, Stuart Vest and Ryan Young
  • 10 years of service awards: William Elrod, Kristian Espina, John Krywicki, Brittney Ragudos and Nelson Rodriguez Guerra
  • 15 years of service awards: Derrell Cole, Terrell Cole, Larry Davenport, Jonathan Griggs and Amanda Harper
  • 20 years of service awards: Pamela Brown, Brian Fraiser, Denise Jackson, Toni Pendleton and Terry Winterheimer
  • 25 years of service awards: Frederick Anderson, William Cline, Christopher Cooper. Michael Crum and Tom Pyburn
  • 30 years of service awards: Jerry Ortiz
  • 35 years of service awards: Debra Hunter, Sam Washburn and Mary Washington
  • Officially Commended: Brian Raney
  • Certificate of Achievement: Sherrie Marine, Cynthia Moring-Jones, Dionne Morrissette, Olivia Pierce and Tim Rolfe
  • Civilian Service Achievement Medal: Jazmeen McCann and Police Sgt. Catherine Ritchey.