Official Press Release from the Simpsonville Police Department, City of Simpsonville:
Simpsonville officer wins statewide award
Karlee Foster knighted by Serve & Connect
Simpsonville, S.C. — The Simpsonville Police Department is proud to announce that Officer Karlee Foster has been awarded the 2019 Gregory Alia Award for excellence in community policing.
Serve & Connect presented the award to Foster at the 4th Annual Knight of Honor Gala at the S.C. State Museum on Friday.
Foster, who has been with the Simpsonville Police Department since December 2016, said she had “no idea” that she was going to win and “felt like a winner” for just being a finalist.
“I read the biographies of the other contestants, and I thought that they were all amazing and so deserving,” said Foster, who has served in the U.S. Army Reserves for nine years.
“I am humbled and honored that Serve & Connect believes what I’m doing is good enough and deserving of such an amazing award.”
The Gregory Alia Award is “in recognition for excellence in community service,” according to the plaque that Foster received, and named after the late Officer Gregory Alia of the Forest Acres Police Department.
Alia was killed in the line of duty in 2015.
Founded by Alia’s widow, Kassy Alia, Serve & Connect is a nonprofit organization that promotes partnerships between police and communities.
Selection of the seven finalists for the award was based on “dedication to community building and compassionate service,” according to Kassy Alia, the CEO of Serve & Connect.
Simpsonville Police Chief Mike Hanshaw said command staff, dispatch and Foster’s fellow officers are happy but not surprised that Foster is the recipient of the award.
“Officer Foster is a true representation of what community policing and policing in general should be,” said Chief Hanshaw, who attended the Gala in the medieval-themed hall.
“Simpsonville Police Department could not be prouder of Officer Foster, and we are glad she has been able to build such a great relationship with the people of Simpsonville. We thank Serve & Connect for recognizing one of our officers, and we know that all our brothers and sisters in blue deserve recognition.”
Foster was also one of six officers to be inducted, or knighted, into the Serve & Connect Knights of the Round Table.
In attendance at the Gala to see Foster knighted were Cpl. Justin Chandler, Mayor Janice Curtis, Simpsonville Police Chief Mike Hanshaw, Lt. Russ Holthaus, Councilwoman Jenn Hulehan and Councilman Lou Hutchings.
Mayor Curtis said her heart swelled with pride when Foster was knighted.
“I was just so happy to see one of our many wonderful police officers be recognized for the hard work that she does each and every day,” said Mayor Curtis, whose eyes welled with tears when Foster won the award.
“Officer Foster and her colleagues put their lives on the line to keep us safe, and I think reminding them that their sacrifices and heroism do not go unnoticed and they are appreciated is the least we can do. Thank you to our police officers, Serve & Connect and to Officer Foster for her service.”
Foster said that winning the Gregory Alia Award means her hard work is paying off.
“It shows that I am changing lives and that I’m achieving my goals because that’s all I ever wanted to do in this job: simply change lives for the better,” Foster said.
Officer Karlee Foster has been with the Simpsonville Police Department for nearly three years.
Officer Foster has served in the U.S. Army Reserves for nine years, is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Specialist and has completed two tours overseas.
Since Officer Foster has been a police officer, she has trained for crisis situations, hostage negotiation and human trafficking and completed school resource officer school.
Officer Foster has been recognized for a case in which she made sure a missing child who was suicidal returned home safe. During her off time, Officer Foster took a homeless woman to her Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and the Social Security Administration office.
Officer Foster helped the woman catch a bus to Boston to where she was wanting to go.
Information provided by the City of Simpsonville
