Community News

HHS school resource officer wins national RISE award

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 8, 2021

Hendersonville Police Officer Joreeca Dinnall is one of three officers across the nation to receive a 2021 Axon RISE Officer Award, the city announced today.

Designed to honor those in public safety and community organizations, the RISE Awards highlight the untold stories of the everyday heroes going beyond the call of duty.

“We are very proud of Joreeca,” said Hendersonville Police Chief Blair Myhand. “She is an outstanding representative for Hendersonville. She truly models a life in service of others. A trait innate in all police officers.”

The 2021 winners were recognized at Axon's 2021 Accelerate conference last week in Phoenix, Arizona. Dinnall, the school resource officer at Hendersonville High School, joined Sgt. Anthony Shea from the Orange County (Florida) Sheriff's Office and Deputy Shawn Hearn, Bell County (Texas) Sheriff's Office in receiving the award.

Hear the inspirational stories of the Axon RISE Officer winners here:
https://vimeo.com/641786663

“I’m honored to be recognized for doing the right thing for those in my community,” said Dinnall, who was nominated for providing assistance to a juvenile experiencing a mental health crisis last year. On her day off, she drove to the city from her home in South Carolina help a student she knew who was having a mental health issue. After driving the student to a facility where he could get help, she stayed with him and updated the family throughout the crisis.

Finalists for the RISE Officer, Agency, and Community awards were selected from over 150 nominees by nearly 17,000 community votes during a two-week voting period. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges.