Wednesday, Mar 21, 2007 - 12:00 AM
BY D.S. TYSON
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
BRISTOL, Va. – Lt. Darryl E. Milligan is humbled to be nominated as an America’s Most Wanted All-Star, but he thinks all employees of the police department should receive the award.
"I’m don’t know if I’m any more deserving than anyone I work with. I work with good people at the [Bristol Virginia] Police Department. Everyone deserves an award like this there," he said.
Through on-line voting, people nationwide vote for one All-Star Finalist each week though mid-April. The All-Star who receives the most votes each week advances to the finalist round. Finalists will be profiled on the America’s Most Wanted television show. They will be entered in the voting for the grand prize: $10,000 and a trip to the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series All-Star Challenge in May.
"He’s one of those individuals, if it’s a difficult assignment, he’s the first person to come to my mind," said Deputy Chief of Police Gregory Baker.
He said Milligan is the ideal officer – someone knowledgeable as both a beat cop and as an administrator.
Milligan was instru-mental in the BVPD becoming a nationally accredited police force. For about a year and a half, Milligan and others reviewed and updated the department’s polices.
"Darryl has a knack for being able to write and word policy to match how we do things here," Baker said.
At 40, Milligan literally spent more than half his life with the Police Department.
"I guess you could say, I grew up there," he said.
During high school, Milligan was an Police Explorer, then became a dispatcher, and when he turned 21, former Chief Thomas Stone hired him as a beat cop. Since then, he advanced to oversee both the patrol and narcotic units. He currently oversees the patrol division.
During that time, Milligan has reflected on his job, one he doesn’t plan to retire from for another decade or so.
"This job is always different. You always get repetitive calls, but each situation is different. The kind of people you meet are unreal. The day people are different than the night people. I guess you could say it’s the greatest show on earth."
Since becoming an officer, Baker said Milligan has always been eager for more education on how to become even better.
He is certified as a general instructor and radar instructor. He is a graduate of the 105th Administrative Officers Course at the Southern Police Institute, University of Louisville. He also holds a associate’s degree in criminal justice from Virginia Highlands Community College and is one of three Motor Carrier Inspectors for the Bristol Virginia Police Department.
The person who nominated him was retired Sgt. Jackie Thurston, who worked with Milligan for more than a decade.
"I guess you could say Darryl goes above and beyond in everything he does for the department," said Baker.
To vote for Milligan, go to America’s Most Wanted Web Site at www.amw.com. Anyone can vote once a day.
http://www.tricities.com/tristate/tri/news.apx.-content-articles-TRI-2007-03-21-0016.html
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