Bridgeport Police Officers Zorick, Bee Honored with DHFS 5K Top Cop Team Award at Council Meeting
By Chris Johnson on August 27, 2024
During its rise to becoming one of the area’s premier annual summer events, the Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K has focused on remembrance for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty (Derek Hotsinpiller was killed in the line of duty as a member of the United States Marshal Service), providing scholarships for students interested in a law enforcement career and providing assistance to law enforcement families in need.
In addition to those worthy causes, the 5K also provides some opportunity for bragging rights, one of which was on display at Monday’s City Council meeting.
Members of the Hotsinpiller family and race committee members were present at City Hall to present The Top Cop team Award to a pair of Bridgeport Police Officers, Austen Zorick and Clayton Bee.
“I’d like to thank everyone for allowing us to come here tonight and present the 2024 Derek Hotsinpiller Fallen Stars 5K Two-Man Law Enforcement Team Challenge (award) to these two exemplary officers from Bridgeport,” Dustin Hotsinpiller said. “They are the finest and fasted the city has to offer and it is with great appreciation not only for what they do for our community but for what the race means to us. Their teamwork and dedication is exactly what this challenge embodies.
“It’s heartwarming to us to see that the race continues to grow every year. It’s a little piece of my heart (this award) finally came back to the city of Bridgeport and two officers from this agency that is near and dear to my heart anyway. For 27 years my father (Jim Hotsinpiller) was a lieutenant here and I did 10 years here before I moved on.”
Zorick completed the race this past June in a time of 20:25.97 and Bee finished with a time of 21:47.80.
Three more city employees were honored on Monday with Years of Service awards.
Ricky Moore was honored for 25 years with the city’s Public Works Department and was presented his award by Bridgeport Public Works Director Tiny Grimes.
“Twenty-five years of service is a long time,” Grimes said. “When I first came here 27 years ago, I worked with Ricky’s Dad. Ricky is in charge of the construction crew so he does all the big jobs which saves the city money where we don’t have to hire contractors. With his years of service, we want to thank him and give him a small token of appreciation. I don’t think anybody could do it any better.”
A pair from the Bridgeport Fire Department were also recipients of Years of Service Awards – Lieutenant Ben Tacy for 10 years and Captain Scott Wilburn for 35 years.
Wilburn was unable to attend Monday’s meeting while Tacy was presented his award by Bridgeport Fire Department Deputy Chief Greg Pigg.
“Ben’s been a lieutenant at the Fire Department since 2018,” Pigg said. “He recently took over in our training division. He’s been a huge asset to our department and he continues to do great things for us. We’re happy to have him.”
As far as new business items on Monday’s agenda, Council was unanimously in favor of three items before moving to executive session for continued talks in regard to the City Manager position.
Michael Moore was reappointed to the Bridgeport Fire Civil Service Commission for a term of four years from Aug. 1, 2024 through July 31, 2028.
A resolution was passed to adopt the Region VI Planning and Development Council’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update for the city.
“We’re lucky that we have a Planning and Development Council that does all the leg work on this,” Bridgeport Emergency Management Director Tim Curry said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean anything other than we are eligible for FEMA grant funding.”
Council also approved the first reading of an ordinance that would approve the amendment of the Planned Unit Development of Phase I of the White Oaks Business by revising the boundaries and acreage of Phase I of The White Oaks Business Park to include that 11.48 acreage tract known and designated as Oakwood Estates.
“White Oaks came to us with the housing development being constructed up at White Oaks,” Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr said. “It’s kind of odd, this parcel is located inside city limits but was never included in their PUD (Planned Unit Development) so on June 3, the Planning Commission sub-divided all the parcels and then discussed amending their PUD to bring it in with all the other land that is already included in their PUD.
“On August 12, is when Planning Commission voted unanimously to bring this 11.48 acres into their PUD.”
Prior to the awards and presentation portion of the meeting, Mayor Andy Lang and Police Chief and Interim City Manager Mark Rogers provided Council with reports.
Lang talked about a recent trip to Summersville where a sports complex similar to The Bridge is in the works.
“I was invited to come down and make a little speech concerning how they paralleled us with a very supportive Council, a very supportive community and a desire to things for their community and the 26,000 people who live in Nicholas County,” Lang said. “They’ve come to Bridgeport and seen our facility and they just looked upon us as someone that they wanted to be like and work with.”
Rogers’ report consisted of his expressing his gratitude to the services provided by the award winners and a welcome to the Hotsinpiller family for attending the meeting.
More photos from the award ceremonies in the upcoming days on Connect-Bridgeport.
Editor’s Note:Top photo shows Top Cop award winners Officer Austen Zorick (left, center) and Officer Clayton Bee (left, right) flanked by DHFS 5K Race Committe Founder Ryan Nicewarner (left) and U.S. Marshal Dustin Hotsinpiller (right), second photo features Years of Service honoree Ricky Moore (left, center) and his father (right, center) flanked by Public Works Director Tiny Grimes (left) and Mayor Andy Lang (right). Third photo is of Fire Department Lt. Ben Tacy and his family and bottom photo is of Councilman Don Burton (left) and Lang.
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