Sandra Young - Officer of the Year

North Carolina Department of Public Safety


	North Carolina DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION Michael F. Easley, Governor Theodis Beck, Secretary

For Immediate Release
May 24, 2001

Contact: Keith Acree
Public Information Officer
(919) 716-3700

YOUNG HONORED AS CORRECTIONAL OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Sandra Young APEX - Officer Sandra Young of North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women in Lexington was recognized today by Correction Secretary Theodis Beck and the North Carolina Department of Correction as one of 12 Correctional Officers of the Year.

Young is a Community Work Crew leader at North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women. On January 29, 2001 as Officer Young and her inmate crew were returning to the prison after trash detail, they noticed a large grass fire burning in the backyard of an elderly couple's home in Lexington.

Young stopped the van and she went to work with the inmates, fighting the fire with a fire extinguisher and water coolers from their van. When firefighters arrived several minutes later, Officer Young and her inmates helped pull hoses from the fire trucks and continued fighting the fire with extinguishers.

Young and her crew received thanks and praise from the homeowners and a commendation from the Lexington Fire Department for working to prevent serious property loss.

"Officer Young has proven herself on many occasions to be an asset to the prison operations at North Piedmont Correctional Center for Women," said Assistant Superintendent Michael Davis.

Young is a graduate of Lexington Senior High School. She worked as a teacher's assistant in the Lexington City Schools before joining the Department of Correction in January 1999. She lives in Lexington.

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