Matthews police officers earn town honors

Four Matthews police officers, who helped the victim of a beating, have been selected by their peers as the 2012 Employees of the Year.

Sgt. Bill Abernathy, Cpl. James Flack, and Officers Kevin Osuch and Steve Rozina aided Harvey Boyd, who was severely beaten in a crime last year and hospitalized for several weeks followed by a stay in a rehabilitation center.

During this time, the four policemen discovered that Boyd’s refrigerator was no longer working. They worked to clean out his old refrigerator, his kitchen and other areas of his home that needed attention.

The officers, working with Matthews Police Chief Rob Hunter, solicited a new refrigerator from Lowes Home Improvement and picked up and installed the appliance.

“They did not think of this as any big thing; they were just helping someone in need – something they are used to doing every day,” said Hunter. “But the reality is this, although this level of compassion and service to others is not commonplace in our society, it is commonplace in this department.”

Mayor Jim Taylor officiated a ceremony for the officers in late February.

“I am very grateful to the police officers who responded the night I was hurt and for the officers who took care of helping me with my house,” said Boyd at the ceremony. “I have seen many new people move to our town and no longer know everyone’s name but no matter how big we get love is still real in our town.”

Abernathy has been with the Matthews Police Department for 17 years while Flack is a 20-year veteran. Osuch has been with the police for 12 years, and Rozina worked for the department for a year.

The award is designed to honor Matthews’ employees who best exemplify the town’s nine Keys of Excellence: relationships, problem-solving, attitude, professionalism, damage control, expectations, communication, teamwork and service.

Kathleen E. Conroy