Above and beyond: JPD officers commended for a job well done

Sergeant Randy Wilson, Sergeant Steven Markasky, Officer Quincy Hamilton and Officer Benton Brumit, all of the Jacksonville Police Department, were given special recognition during a recent Jacksonville Council meeting.

Lieutenant Chase Berryhill had written a letter of commendation for the four peace officers regarding an incident which took place Saturday, Oct. 19.

“Jacksonville police department officers assisted the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department in a situation involving a shooting and a barricaded suspect. Officers with our department responded and were first officers on-scene in the initial call,” Berryhill read from his commendation letter.

Berryhill was contacted and was requested to respond. Upon his arrival, he coordinated with command staff of Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff James Campbell, briefing Campbell on the tactical experience and available equipment and resources provided by Jacksonville officers on-scene.

“Sheriff Campbell requested our assistance in bringing this dangerous situation to a resolution. I’m writing this letter to you to recognize the professionalism, the courage and the dedication that I saw from my fellow officers during this incident,” Berryhill read. “While controlling the scene, I gave officers from our department orders to conduct a specific tactical movements and operations. The officers under my command carried out these instructions without hesitation and with a sense of duty and courage. These officers knowingly placed themselves in harm’s way to assist another agency and did so without complaint, question or doubt.”

“I want to personally thank these officers for their actions and a job well done,”

“I would like to specifically note actions by Sgt. Steven Markasky. During the course of this incident, I was having to make command decisions and consulted with my team leader Sgt. Markasky. During this incident, Sgt. Markasky offered several excellent options that could be deployed and one of which was ultimately used and was instrumental in bringing the situation to a peaceful resolution.”