Optimist Club Of Perdido Bay Presents Law Enforcement Awards

Optimist Club Of Perdido Bay Presents Law Enforcement Awards

The Optimist Club of Perdido Bay has awarded the “Deputy Scott Ward Memorial Law Enforcement of the Year Award” to two Baldwin County officers, Orange Beach Sergeant Jeremy Mote and Corporal Andrew Ashton, a member of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
Sergeant Jeremy Mote was nominated for Courage and Heroism in the Line of Duty. He observed two swimmers in distress at Perdido Pass and swam with a rescue tube to them. He performed CPR on the rescue boat until more help arrived. Police Chief Joseph F. Fierro said Mote’s quick action in assisting the two swimmers is “a credit not only to himself but all law enforcement.” Although one of the swimmers later passed away some months later, “Officer Mote’s actions provided the family with an opportunity to spend some valuable time with their family member prior to his untimely death,” says Chief Fierro.
Corporal Andrew Ashton “has the unique ability to be an absolute advocate for victims, no matter the crime and he always puts their best interest ahead of anything else,” says Sergeant Matt Morrison of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division. In 2018 Corporal Ashton made 62 arrests on 48 felony7 charges and 14 misdemeanor charges. These cases included sex crimes for both adults and children, robberies, assaults, abuses, attempted murder and murder. Corporal Ashton’s award was for his Overall Investigation Performance throughout the year.
Others nominees include Corporal Daniel Rada, Fairhope Police Department; Officer Kyle Hattemar, Loxley Police Department; Sergeant Susan Gross and Sergeant Matthew Morrison, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office; Senior Conservation Enforcement Officer Jeremy Hicks, Department of Conservation, Marine Resources Division. Also, Officer Benjamin Hancock, Gulf Shores Police Department; Officer Michael Smith, Daphne Police Department; Corporal Michelle “Shelly” Oliver, Foley Police Department and Arson Investigator Adam Bowmar, Gulf Shores Fire Department. Pictured: Law “Enforcement Officer of the Year award winners are fifth from left, Orange Beach Police Sergeant Jeremy Mote and sixth is Baldwin County Sheriff Corporal Andrew Ashton. Other nominees include Corporal Daniel Rada, Fairhope Police Department; Officer Kyle Hattemar, Loxley Police Department; Sergeant Susan Gross and Sergeant Matthew Morrison, Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office; Senior Conservation Enforcement Officer Jeremy Hicks, Department of Conservation, Marine Resources Division; Officer Benjamin Hancock, Gulf Shores Police Department; Officer Michael Smith, Daphne Police Department; Corporal Michelle “Shelly” Oliver, Foley Police Department and Arson Investigator Adam Bowmar, Gulf Shores Fire Department.