Okaloosa County BOCC — April 7, 2015 — Award Documentation — reading text

H.E.R.O. Feedback Form Humanitarian Efforts Recognized by Okaloosa County (To be completed by Department Director) — — — RECEIVED Employee’s Full Name: Chief Andy Johnson MAR 2 4 2015 Department:. Airports HR NORTH Job Title: Chief, Okaloosa County Aiports Police Department Detail reasons why Director is nominating employee for a H.E.R.O. Award: For Chief Andy Johnson's efforts and actions above and beyond the call of duty on the 10th night and 11th day of March, 2015, for assisting in the search and recovery of the missing Louisiana Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter which crashed into Santa Rosa Sound on Eglin Air Force Base resulting in the tragic loss of the 11 Heroes who were aboard. Nominating Director Nape, unil Harman A.A.E., IAP Signature: Date: Send this fém,/ fl‘lg with any documentation (if appli¢able) to HR for review. g Approve Deny HR Director Review: fi'& Date: 3’/@/5- | / Directions to CAO staff: If approved: Coordinate, between Department Director and County Administrator, recognition at an upcoming Board meeting Prepare certificate for presentation; forward copy to HR Forward a copy of all documentation to Public Information Officer Forward original Feedback form and any attached documentation to HR If denied: Copies of this form and any supporting documentation, if applicable, to Director Original copy of this form and any supporting documentation to HR Directions to PIO: Coordinate the following: picture of employee on website (if agreeable), press release, and spotlight in the next County Newsletter Revised 04/09/09 Directions for HR: Payroll HR Specialist process 8 hours of leave for all approved employees Enter information in tracking database All paperwork to be filed in employees HR file Revised 04/09/09 RECEIVED MEMORANDUM MAR 2 & 2015 HR NORTH TO: John Hofstad, County Administrator FROM: Sunil Harman, A.A.E., IAP, Airports Director DATE: 03/23/15 SUBJECT: Okaloosa County Airports Police Chief’s service in Blackhawk Response On March 10, 2015 Airport Operations Center (AOC) received a call at 9:50pm from Eglin Air Force Base requesting an officer to response to the Destin Executive Airport (DTS) to determine whether a missing Blackhawk UH-60 Helicopter had landed at this location. Officer Jeff VanCamp responded promptly and was able to determine that the missing helicopter was not at the Destin Executive Airport. Unsure of the location of the missing Blackhawk and the fact the helicopter had departed from DTS earlier in the evening Chief Johnson responded to DTS to assist with potential staging/search efforts. He secured the area and remained on DTS property awaiting additional news on the flight until approx. 2:00am. Once assured that DTS was not going to be utilized in search efforts, he departed DTS for home with the whereabouts of the Blackhawk still unknown. At approx. 2:45am he was notified by the AOC that the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office was responding to the area of the Navarre Bridge in response to possible debris from the missing Blackhawk being found on the south side of Navarre along the Santa Rosa Sound shoreline. At approx. 3:00am he reached on-scene as the initial responding Santa Rosa Deputies and Santa Rosa Fire/Rescue began arriving. After assisting with securing and setup of the Command Center site he called me and reported that he was assisting in the search/rescue and recovery (SAR) efforts hindered by dense fog and very limited visibility along the shoreline of Santa Rosa Sound, Navarre. Shortly thereafter, the east SAR team began to locate crash debris and human remains. They were able to narrow down the heaviest debris field area in an effort to help responding marine SAR teams locate the downed aircraft in the Sound. Chief Johnson went in water on several occasions and actively assisted in the recovery of two (2) crew members and large pieces of debris and began documenting debris and remains discovered along an approximant two (2) mile stretch of the Navarre coastline. Chief Johnson concluded his assistance to the SAR Team at 6:15am once adequate manpower had arrived on scene. Before leaving, Chef Johnson called me and reported evidence of a high impact crash based on the debris and crew recovered and reported no survivors. THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED TO ANDY JOHNSON EFFORTS OOSA COUNTY 331718