Winter 2011 Smart, Safe & Sober Newsletter
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Wythe County Sheriff's Office Deputy Wins National MADD Award
MADD Virginia also honors law enforcement officers in Virginia for their efforts to curb drunk driving
MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney with
Wythe County Sheriff's Deputy Chris Coleman
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The Wythe County Sheriff’s Office is extremely proud to announce that the winner of the 2010 MADD National President’s Award for Outstanding Individual Law Enforcement Achievement is one of its own. At a black -tie dinner held on September 25, 2010 at the 30th Anniversary MADD National Conference in Washington, D.C., Deputy Robert “Chris” Coleman was presented with his award and received a standing ovation from a crowd of over 300.
MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney honored Deputy Coleman and the other 2010 award recipients for their outstanding work in furthering MADD’s mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking.
“These people and organizations have all demonstrated tremendous commitment to the safety of individuals and families in their communities,” said Dean-Mooney. “Looking back on our remarkable 30-year history, I know MADD simply wouldn’t be where we are today without people like them working to end this violent crime, which took 10,839 lives last year alone.”
Deputy Coleman’s award comes from his outstanding work and finely-attuned instincts on July 7, 2009, when he stopped a vehicle on Interstate-81 that was recklessly driving at 85 m.p.h. Upon stopping the vehicle, Deputy Coleman realized that the driver, Lisa Damron, was drunk. He further realized that the passenger, Jerry Damron, was also drunk.
Doggedly investigating the situation, it was not long before Deputy Coleman discovered the body of Kelly Lynette Cully hidden in the back of the vehicle. The Damrons had murdered her earlier in the morning. Deputy Coleman was also able to retrieve a concealed handgun from Jerry Damron.
Further investigation revealed that Jerry Damron was on a bond from North Carolina for the involuntary manslaughter of one of his children. This occurred as a result of a collision where, it is alleged, that Damron was impaired while driving.
An aggressive enforcer of the Commonwealth’s traffic safety laws, Chris won the 2009 Departmental DUI enforcement award and the Departmental Highway Safety Award. He sets the example, and the bar is high.
Deputy Coleman’s heroism, bravery, and tenacity on July 7, 2009, not only protected our citizens from a drunk driver, but put two murderers into custody.
MADD Virginia Recognizes Outstanding Virginia Law Enforcement Officers in 2010
MADD Virginia is proud to have sponsored or co-sponsored 10 award ceremonies recognizing law enforcement officers from across Virginia for their outstanding
work on DUI enforcement, training, education and related prevention initiatives. Pictures are posted at www.maddva.org.
A full-list of the officers honored was published in the January 2011 MADD Virginia Newsletter. Click here to read the PDF.
(NOTE: The MADD Newsletter is now distributed as an electronic publication. You may subscribe using the form on page 1 of the January 2011 newsletter or by emailing va.state@madd.org with your name, address, phone number and email address.)
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