CPD Officers Receive Excellence in Law Enforcement Awards from Veterans Club
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook announces that two Columbia Police Department officers were recently honored by a veterans group for their outstanding dedication and service to the law enforcement profession and citizens of Columbia.
Chief, members of his Command Staff, and fellow police officers attended an annual awards ceremony on Saturday, July 21 hosted by The Forty and Eight General’s Club at the American Legion Post 130 in Cayce, South Carolina.
Officer of the Year:
Selected from among their peers, Sergeant Jeffrey Brink was named Officer of the Year by the Club for going above and beyond the call of duty while answering a call for service on March 11, 2018.
Sgt. Brink and fellow officers were dispatched to an apartment on Lucius Road for a violent stabbing incident. Upon arrival, Brink immediately encountered the victim with visible wounds, staggering out of the apartment. In an effort to protect others near the incident location, Brink drew his department-issued firearm while entering the apartment, placing himself between the suspect and citizens.
Due to Brink’s actions, the suspect was detained, subsequently arrested, and charged with attempted murder. The victim is the case is recovering from his injuries.
Sgt. Brink has been with the department since August 2008 and is currently assigned to North Region encompasses neighborhoods including: Earlewood, Eau Claire, Elmwood Park, Hyatt Park/Keenan Terrance and Greenview.
Rookie of the Year:
Officer Forrest Fulmore, who’s been with CPD since April 2016, has been named Rookie of the Year for proactively seizing several firearms during recent arrests.
In January, Officer Fulmore chased an auto-breaking suspect in the Old Woodlands community and during the arrest; Fulmore confiscated two stolen handguns from the suspect. In another incident, Officer Fulmore seized two handguns, one of which was reported as stolen during the arrests of three suspects wanted in connection with a suspicious vehicle call.
In addition to those acts, in March, Officer Fulmore witnessed a road rage incident involving a driver accused of pointing a gun at another driver. Fulmore initiated a traffic stop on the suspect driver, talked with him and was able to diffuse the tense situation, while confiscating the stolen handgun used in the crime. The man was subsequently charged in connection with the investigation.
Fulmore is currently assigned to South Region which encompasses neighborhoods including: Five Points, Shandon, South Kilbourne, Waverly, Rosewood, Gregg Park, Heathwood and Hampton Park.
History of The Forty and Eight General’s Club at the American Legion Post 130:
The Club, formed in 1973, honors and dignifies the profession of law enforcement. Founders state, “due to our time in the military, we understand the sacrifices and danger law enforcement officers face every day and we just want to show our appreciation.This is our way of thanking them and honoring their daily sacrifices.”
