From left are Capt. Ed O’Carroll, CAC’s Leslie Jenuleson, PFC Shannon Briney, Sal Speziale and Crime Prevention Officer Tara Gerhard. Speziale, owner of Ciao Osteria in Centreville, gave Briney a gift certificate to his restaurant. Photo Courtesy of Todd Kinkead
PFC Shannon Briney has been a Fairfax County police officer for 12 years and, for the past three, she’s been assigned to the Sully District Station. Now, based on her exemplary job performance, she’s been selected as the station’s Citizens Advisory Committee’s (CAC) Officer of the Month for October.
“PFC Briney is a proactive patrol officer and operates at a very high level,” wrote her supervisor, Sgt. Brad Avery, in his nomination letter. “She routinely handles complex events with little to no direction needed from her supervisors.”
He also noted that her reports detailing what happened, her investigation and the outcome are written “in a manner well above the average patrol officer.” And, he added, besides her supervisors observing her attention to detail, investigative aptitude and ability to draft an excellent report, a supervisor from the Major Crimes Division has also acknowledged her superior work.
“PFC Briney maintains the demanding certifications associated with being an EMT-paramedic without impacting her primary responsibility to patrol,” continued Avery. “She then utilizes these specialized skills by supplementing the Helicopter Division’s critical mission.”
He said she’s demonstrated her knowledge and skills on several, joint Police and Fire Department events. And as a result, “Her abilities are widely recognized by the Fire Department’s EMT-paramedics who work within the Sully District.”
Briney also assists with squad administrative tasks. “She willingly steps up to coordinate squad staffing, ensuring minimum numbers are met,” said Avery. “She works with new officers assigned to the squad to ease their transition to the station. These tasks are all self-initiated and evidence of her devotion to duty. PFC Briney is a reliable employee and most deserving of this recognition.”
She was formally honored at a recent CAC meeting. Capt. Ed O’Carroll, commander of the Sully District Station, said Briney’s on permanent night shift there. “She has an outstanding work ethic, puts detail in her crime reports and maintains a positive attitude,” he said. “She has the ability to get the job done, and her leadership on her squad is a shining example to others.”
“I’ve relied on her here at Sully,” said O’Carroll. “And the community has definitely benefitted – she’s saved lives.”
Accepting her certificate from him, Briney said, “I truly appreciate it; I did not expect it.”