Gwinnett school police officer wins award for valor

The Peace Officers Association of Georgia recently awarded a Gwinnett County Schools police officer with one its highest honors.

Last October, Gwinnett School Resource Officer Nicolette McLeod-Pinnock responded to an urgent classroom situation at Trickum Middle School. A student had stabbed a teacher with a knife and grabbed another student, threatening her with the same weapon.

Officer McLeod-Pinnock’s quick action and appropriate response de-escalated the situation and allowed her to disarm the student and take him into custody. No other students or staff were harmed.

Monday, she was honored for that response by her peers, winning the Peace Officers Association of Georgia’s Officer of

the Year Award for Valor. Officer McLeod-Pinnock received the award during the group’s annual conference awards luncheon, held in Savannah.

This is a great honor as the POAG receives nominations from across the state.

“I am so proud of Officer McLeod-Pinnock and appreciate the fact that others recognize her courage and service to Gwinnett’s students and teachers,” said Gwinnett County Schools Police Chief Wayne Rikard. “Our officers are some of the best trained out there and she is a great representative and certainly deserving. She handled the situation at Trickum in a very professional manner and it should be comforting to parents and all of us in the Gwinnett community that we have officers like her working in our schools.”

POAG’s Officer of the Year Award for Valor recognizes valor, acts of heroism or outstanding deeds which resulted in the protection of life and/or property. Officer McLeod-Pinnock is the first Gwinnett schools police officer to receive this honor.

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Arlinda Smith Broady

A Midwesterner by birth, but a Southerner by heritage, Arlinda Smith Broady has a combination of solid values, easy-going charm and unrelenting thirst for knowledge that makes her a not only a dedicated journalist, but a compassionate community member. She seeks truth and justice, but is just as eager to spread good news and share a witty story.

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