Campus Police Award Hard Work

Sgt. Russell Mills was doing his job. In December, he apprehended a young man who had snatched a woman's purse and knocked her to the ground in the process. All on his own, he chased him down, cuffed him and managed to get the woman's belongings back to her.

Not many students are aware of this modest accomplishment, but Mills' colleagues honored the sergeant on Thursday with the Campus Police Department (CPD) Officer of the Quarter award.

For the past eight years, the CDP awards one officer with the award every quarter.

"It boosts the morale of the officers in the department," said Captain Thomas Parker, Jr., chairperson of the award committee. "The officers look forward to it."

In a small boardroom of about 20 CDP officers, captains, sergeants, lieutenants and staffers, Mills received a certificate, a letter of recognition and a plaque along with $100. Co-workers went around the room congratulating him.

"They say a lot about Campus Police and a lot of it is negative," said Captain Toby Shannon in his remarks. "This shows you that the cream rises to the top and when it comes down to it, the job gets done."

"It feels good," Mills said. "We do a lot here that's not really recognized through the university."

Often times, students and even fellow officers don't get recognized for the work of the CPD officers. Mills wasn't alone in getting his kudos.

"We have a lot of Mills' on this force," said Captain Henry Sellers, Mills' shift supervisor. "We just can't recognize them all at the same time."

Three other officers were nominated for the award for the October-December quarter. According to their supervisors, officers James Drewery, Robert Heath and Michael Parks all deserved to be honored for their work.

Sellers believes Mills deserved the honor due to his dedication and willingness to respond to any situation under any circumstances.

"He was by himself when the young lady approached him, and he still engaged the suspect," Sellers said. "He was already in handcuffs and in the backseat when I arrived."

He said officers can't "have a scared bone in them."

"If you're in danger, I'm going to try to get between you and the danger," Sellers said.

Mills spends his time working not only to succeed at his job as an officer, but also as a student at the university. He is a sophomore administration of justice major and hopes to work in investigations one day.

Sellers is no stranger to the award. In 2004, he won for providing CPR to an elderly man in Cramton Auditorium.

A different officer is recognized every three months with the next quarter ending at the end of March.