A Hendersonville, North Carolina, school resource police officer was one of three officers in the country to receive a special national award.
Officer Joreeca Dinnall, a school resource officer at Hendersonville High, received the 2021 Axon RISE Officer Award, which honors astounding individuals in public safety and community organizations for their heroism and dedication.
The city of Hendersonville wrote in a press release that the award focuses on the “untold stories of the everyday heroes among us.” According to Axon’s website, “the RISE awards celebrate those who rise to serve and protect their communities through heroism and dedication.”
Dinnall was acclaimed for her work in assisting a young person in the middle of a mental health crisis in 2020. It was her day off when she drove to the city from her South Carolina home to help a student she knew who was struggling with a mental health issue. She then drove the student to a facility where he could get help, and stayed with him while updating the family throughout the crisis.
“I’m honored to be recognized for doing the right thing for those in my community,” Dinnall said in the city press release.
Hendersonville Chief Blair Myhand was also proud of Dinnall.
“We are very proud of Joreeca. She is an outstanding representative for Hendersonville. She truly models a life in service of others. A trait innate in all police officers,” Myhand said.
Dinnall and the other winners this year were recognized at Axon’s 2021 Accelerate conference Phoenix, Arizona.
The other recipients were Sgt. Anthony Shea from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida and Deputy Shawn Hearn of the Bell County Sheriff’s Office in Texas.
Finalists for the RISE Officer, Agency and Community awards were chosen from over 150 nominees after tallying 17,000 community votes throughout a two-week voting period. The winners were then selected by a panel of carefully handpicked judges.
“Axon’s RISE Awards showcase the extraordinary courage, compassion and dedication to community demonstrated by officers, agencies and community organizations across the country,” Axon CEO and founder Rick Smith said.
Axon is a public safety and law enforcement technology development company best known for its product, the Taser. The company develops weapons and other tools for law enforcement, military, and civilians.
