JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services specialists and other safety officials gathered at City Hall in Jacksonville, N.C., for the 2012 Onslow County Public Safety Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce.
The Firefighting Professional of the Year, Law Enforcement Professional of the Year, Emergency Communications Professional of the Year and the Emergency Medical Services Professional of the Year awards were all presented at the ceremony with Camp Lejeune personnel being recognized for two of four categories.
Glenn Zurek, assistant chief of training for the fire department for Marine Corps Installations East – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and Jonathon Durkee, special agent with Naval Criminal Investigative Service Camp Lejeune, both won awards for their dedication to their job.
Zurek was awarded with the Firefighting Professional of the Year award for his work.
Zurek held the title of accreditation manager for the last five years, helping his division receive nation accreditation. His division is the largest single Department of Defense fire and EMS unit to receive accreditation on a national scale.
During the last 18 months, he was also the acting fire prevention chief, directly supervising five full-time fire inspectors, four sprinkler mechanics and four fire-alarm technicians.
Zurek coordinated with Coastal Carolina Community College to provide additional class for firefighters, EMS specialists and paramedics to maintain certifications and training requirements.
Earlier this year, Zurek coordinated a joint Air Rescue Firefighter Certification course with Fort Bragg firefighters aboard the installation in Fayetteville, N.C., and oversaw all the training.
The Jacksonville-Onslow Chamber of Commerce awarded Durkee as the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Durkee worked at MCB Camp Lejeune since 2010 mainly as an undercover agent and case worker.
In 2011, MCB Camp Lejeune NCIS special operations personnel launched Operation: Sweet Tea. The operation’s main focus was theft, illegal possession and illegal sale of United States government property with United States military equipment being the focal point.
Durkee maintained an undercover persona in the Jacksonville community during Sweet Tea and coordinated more than 100 undercover operations during the investigation. Sweet Tea itself generated 66 active investigations and 89 subject investigations with Durkee working as an undercover agent and responsible for the much of the production.
More than $2.8 million of stolen military equipment was uncovered during Sweet Tea including, weapons, weapon accessories, armor, night vision gear and other kinds of government property.
“I think my efforts for this award were a little different than a lot of law enforcement,” said Durkee. “I was very dependent upon NCIS. Our partnerships with the Marine Corps, the Jacksonville Police Department and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office all contributed to what was able to be uncovered.”
The ability for the many different components of the reaction team to work together, from the first responders over the phone, to the fire and police departments, enables the job goes as smoothly as possible, said Zurek. He said he looks forward to making sure everyone in the community is as safe as possible in the future.