Down syndrome didn’t stop David Timothy from earning his basketball jersey at Juneau-Douglas High School, and it certainly didn’t stop him from taking the police officer’s oath, completing a lifelong dream.
In front of friends and family Friday at the Juneau Police Department’s quarterly awards ceremony, Chief Bryce Johnson gave Timothy a JPD hat and coin (he already has a badge at home) to complete his initiation as JPD’s “Friend of the Force.”
“His determination, and endurance, and happy positive attitude reflected the greatest honor on himself and his family,” Johnson said, referencing Timothy’s recent completion of the officer physical test, which was open to the public and took place Thursday. Timothy took part in five events that included sprints, jumping, pushups, and sit-ups.
Johnson called Timothy a “shinning example of courage,” who pushed through every category, impressing everyone around him.
“JPD is honored to associate with David, such a great individual,” Johnson said.
In addition to JPD’s nod to Timothy, JPD Chief Johnson handed out awards to recognize several of his officers.
JPD Lt. Kris Sell was recognized for her commitment to the force and accepted the department’s Jackie Renninger Community Policing Award. The award is a tribute to former officer Renninger who passed away in the 1990s after just six months on the force and yet had demonstrated a deep devotion to building community relationships, Johnson said.
“If there is a person at the JPD that is connected to community, that does just incredible outreach in the community, that has so many great ideas about how to do all these things and implements them, it is certainly Lt. Kris Sell,” he said.
Sell has either started or been the driving force behind several JPD-community events, Johnson said, such as a bike safety program, Christmas gift-giving for at-risk youth, Special Olympic torch running and anti-heroin community events.
Sell called the honor humbling.
“(Policing is) not all just going out and tackling bad guys, and handcuffing people and throwing them in jail,” Sell said. “We really are there to try and make it a better community.”
In Sell’s 18 years on Juneau’s police force, she said she’s seen the transformation from dealing with Juneau’s drug problem from one that “other people had” to one that the whole community faces together. She said the whole community has to work together to solve the underlying issues with addiction.
“As long as we’re all contributing, we can last longer than the problem can,” Sell said. “But it takes all of us.”
Chief Johnson also recognized JPD Sgt. David Wrightson and Transportation Security Administration Officer Shawn Jackson for their teamwork in February when a man suffered an asthma attack at the Juneau International Airport.
Johnson said Jackson helped keep the ailing man’s airway open as Wrightson performed chest compressions. The man completely recovered later at Bartlett Regional Hospital.
A federal TSA representative was present at the ceremony and thanked Jackson for his efforts on behalf of the federal director.
• Contact reporter Paula Ann Solis at 523-2272 or paula.solis@juneauempire.com.
