Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
The heartfelt poem of Officer Down – The Badge reads: “It is polished and shiny and looks so fine. Once you earn it, you have to toe the line. The minutes you wear it upon your chest, it becomes a symbol that you are the best. It means honesty, integrity and fairness to all. Your life is never your own, but at the publics call. Night or day, any hour, it makes you a mark. It does not protect you from a shot in the dark. Over the years the shine starts to fade, but brighter still is the man it’s made. It is often what separates you from the crowd. It is a second family of which you are proud.”
Craig citizens are grateful to have a caring and professional police force that’s ready for any call they receive. They are also to be congratulated for helping Craig County to have received a special award.
On Tuesday, June 5, the Craig County Sheriff’s Office received the 2017 Highway Safety Award for Craig County, denoting no traffic deaths in 2017. “This award reflects on the hard work of the Craig County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Virginia State Police,” Sheriff Trevor Craddock said. “We work together in making our highways a safer place for all citizens who travel through Craig County.”
The award reflects that Craig County had no traffic deaths for the year 2017. It was presented to Sheriff Craddock by Paul Sleeper at the 2018 Virginia Highway Safety Summit. Craig County also received this award in the year 2016. Sadly, Craddock reported that there has been a traffic death in 2018.
Sheriff Craddock and the staff encourage all of Craig’s citizens to continue to do their part in keeping the community a safe place. “I want all the citizens of Craig County to please drive safely and report reckless driving to the Sheriff’s Office so that they and Virginia State Police can respond to the matter,” he said.