The officers were recognized for various accomplishments, ranging from acts of heroism to initiating projects to improve operations of prison facilities and supervision of offenders.

During the ceremony, Correction Secretary Theodis Beck expressed his pride in the work of the officers. He said, "For not much money, and for often terrible hours, on a daily basis, officers put their lives at risk for two simple reasons — to protect and help others." Beck went on to say, " There is no greater calling in this great country that calls for more moral strength, sacrifice and fidelity than that of public service."

Officers and their respective divisions are:

Carl Wayne Jewett is a probation/parole officer in Tarboro. In the evening hours of September 16, the Heartsease Fire Department requested Jewett’s assistance in the rescue effort of 20 stranded flood victims in the Dunbar Community. Using two small boats, Jewett and others rescued all 20 people and their pets from the rising floodwaters. The next day, Jewett reported for work. For the next 15 days, Jewett averaged more than 11 hours a day in truck, boat and helicopter rescue operations.

Kenneth L. Jones is a surveillance officer in Bladen County. He was instrumental in helping to bring offenders into compliance. The intensive supervision officer at the unit could not work due to injuries from a car accident. At the time, there were 47 probationers/parolees who were on intensive supervision. Jones reviewed the caseload and made recommendations for case staffing. Through his recommendations, his unit was able to change a caseload with serious compliance issues into one that now has minimal compliance problems.

Laura Bowers Bame is a probation/parole officer in Cabarrus County. Bame, who supervises sex offenders in the Sex Offender Control Pilot Program, frequently goes the extra mile — literally — to ensure public safety. At one time, Bame was supervising a "sexual predator" on parole from Texas. Before his time in custody, the offender frequented bowling alleys where he targeted young people. Bame visited local bowling alleys to advise employees of his presence in the area. An owner of a bowling alley told her the offender had joined a bowling league to teach youngsters. The offender was then arrested and extradited back to Texas.

Lynn Jeffrey Vickers is a program assistant at IMPACT West. Vickers developed computer databases for IMPACT West that greatly improved the efficiency of recordkeeping at his unit. The databases help keep track of tools, and personnel and probationer information at the facility. IMPACT West assistant superintendent James Greene nominated Vickers for the award. Greene said, "I have worked with the Department of Corrections for more than 28 years, and I feel Mr. Vickers is one of the best employees I have ever had the pleasure to work with."

Mike Reynolds is a correctional officer at Dan River Prison Work Farm. As Reynolds was returning home August 25, he saw a flaming car. Inside the car was Jimmy Odell, unconscious and badly burned. Reynolds quickly grabbed Odell’s belt buckle and pulled him out of the vehicle. Odell was then taken to a local hospital and later recovered.

Richard David Miller is a correctional officer at Lumberton Correctional Institution. On March 11, inmate Robert Ferguson collapsed on the recreation field at the institution. Miller was the first correctional officer on the scene. Ferguson was unconscious, and Miller noticed a change in his skin color. Miller tried to revive the inmate by shaking him and shouting, but he received no response. Without regard for his own health, Miller immediately administered CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Ferguson. However, despite Miller’s brave efforts, Ferguson died.

Ricky Rivenbark is a captain at Pender Correctional Institution. On September 17, the Pender County Sheriff’s Department requested assistance from Pender Correctional Institution in evacuating people from floodwaters created by Hurricane Floyd. Rivenbark responded with a four-person team, a truck and two buses. His crew traveled through dangerously high water to get to the affected areas. After arriving, Rivenbark stationed one bus in a central area and sent out a roving vehicle to search for people who were stranded.

Robert Allen Reed is a sergeant at Western Youth Institution. During his employment at Western Youth, he has consistently accepted new challenges and responsibilities. These responsibilities include achieving his General Instructor Certification. Other certifications include unarmed self-defense and Sexual Harassment Prevention.

Kenneth Shields is a correctional officer at Nash Correctional Institution. In the early morning hours of September 16, Shields and fellow officer Christopher Beasley were attempting to drive their vehicles to work in spite of the conditions created by Hurricane Floyd. The two men’s cars became trapped in the floodwater and started drifting in the currents. Shields climbed from his car with his cellular telephone and made it to solid ground. Beasley attempted to swim to safety, but the currents exhausted him, forcing him to cling to a tree to stay alive. Until help arrived two hours later, Shields called out to Beasley and encouraged him to not give up.

Eddie Keith Overby is a lieutenant at Franklin Correctional Center. On March 4, Overby was teaching a class how to make a fire using a flint and steel and dried grass and moss. During a test, a student began sparking his flint, but then blew too hard on the sparks. Flames shot up, igniting grass the student was holding. A safety officer at the class tried to extinguish the fire using a wool blanket, but the safety officer’s coat sleeve caught on fire and, in an instant, his entire coat was in flames. The officer dropped and began rolling to put out the coat fire but rolled into an area of broom straw and spread the fire. Overby immediately grabbed a wool blanket and dove on the officer. Other safety officers at the church then began putting out the fires still burning.

Jeffrey Clark is a correctional officer at Blue Ridge Youth Center. On March 26, Clark was driving to work and saw a flaming truck down an embankment beside the highway. Clark quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher from his vehicle and worked to get the17-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl from the burning truck.

Kenneth Coley is a correctional officer at Neuse Correctional Institution. Coley was on approved vacation following Hurricane Floyd, but reported for duty after securing his family. After assisting in the full evacuation of the institution, he reported to the Red Cross where he worked 10 to 13 hours a day. Unfortunately, Coley was seriously injured in a car accident not long after Hurricane Floyd. He is still recuperating from his injuries. Still, Coley continues to report to work and function in whatever capacity is needed. Throughout it all, Officer Coley serves with diligence and dignity.