Date of Release: 5-15-07
Time of Release: 8:00 a.m.

Date: May 16, 2007

Time: 3:00 P.M.

Event: Award Ceremony

Location: Orlando Police Department
100 South Hughey Ave.
Orlando, Florida 32801

SUMMARY:
The Orlando Police Department Awards Ceremony is scheduled on a bi-monthly basis to honor those receiving Department awards, along with employees who are retiring or being promoted.
The Awards Program provides for positive reinforcement when employees perform their duties in an exemplary manner or with extraordinary compassion, bravery, or courage. This program also provides the Department an opportunity to recognize citizens for their assistance to our employees, the Department, and the community.

Special Presentation:
Mr. Jeff Kunerth is a minority affairs writer with the Orlando Sentinel. Early in 2007, Mr. Kunerth contacted the Orlando Police Department requesting information for an Orlando Sentinel story about the first black police officers hired by the City of Orlando. He indicated the story would run in the Orlando Sentinel during Black History Month. His series “Barrier Breakers” A Look at Orlando’s First Black Police Officers compassionately depicted the challenges and struggles minorities faced during a time when segregation and discrimination prevailed. The series recognized the heart-felt stories of the six men who pioneered the way for diversity we seek out today in our hiring practices.
Today we honor Mr. Kunerth as well as the six officers represented in this series with the Chief’s Special Award.

The award will be given to five of the officers posthumously and the last surviving officer will attend and accept his own award.