Cobb Chamber Presents 2024 Public Safety Awards

The Cobb Chamber of Commerce announced the 2024 Public Safety Award recipients on Monday, kicking off Public Safety Appreciation Week.

From Oct. 7 to 11, the 29th annual week-long celebration will act as a community-wide effort to say thank you to those who work to keep Cobb County safe.

Awards were presented to public safety personnel from across the county, representing police, fire, the sheriff’s office, campus police and emergency medical services.

Melissa Alterio, 2024 Public Safety Committee chairwoman and director of the Cobb Department of Emergency Communications, as well as attorney Lance LoRusso of LoRusso Law Firm, addressed the audience, sharing messages of appreciation for the various public safety agencies and encouraging the community to come together to support these agencies year-round.

In total, nine awards were given out during the Public Safety Appreciation Luncheon at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre.

Categories included Public Safety Employee of the Year, Award of Merit, Distinguished Achievement Award, Outstanding Community Contribution Award and Medal of Valor.

The 2024 Public Safety Employee of the Year was given to a confidential officer with the Acworth Police Department who serves with the Drug Enforcement Administration and frequently works undercover. According to the chamber, the unidentified officer encountered a woman attempting suicide on a bridge over Interstate 575 in May 2023 and was able to de-escalate the situation, keeping her from further harm.

Cobb County Fire’s Company 7 B Shift and Marietta Police Officer Isaac Moore were both awarded the Award of Merit, which recognizes recipients for acts of courage.

The chamber recognized Engine 7’s crew for recovering three victims from their burning home in July 2023. Moore was recognized for his life saving actions during a serious auto accident in September 2023, where a woman was left with a partially severed right leg and completely severed left leg.

As Hispanic liaison for Cobb Police’s Community Affairs Unit, Sgt. William Nerio was awarded the Distinguished Achievement Award for his role in bridging the cultural gap between the police department and the county’s growing Hispanic community, according to the chamber.

Acworth Police Cpl. Eric Mistretta and Tanya Smith, Kennesaw State University SAFE Center director, received the Outstanding Community Contribution Award for their leadership as community-oriented public servants, chamber officials said.

The Medal of Valor was presented to two individuals and one unit: former Cobb Police Officer Thomas Weldon, Kennesaw Police Officer David Hubbart and Engine 3 with the Smyrna Fire Department.

Weldon was recognized for exemplifying bravery while de-escalating a Chevron gas station robbery in September of last year. Hubbart, while off duty in March 2024, subdued a suspect holding a firearm after returning from a soccer game with his family on a MARTA train.

Similarly using quick thinking, Engine 3’s crew recovered a trapped victim and extinguished a working structure fire in June 2023.

For more information on Public Safety Appreciation Week, visit cobbchamber.org/events/public-safety-appreciation-week.