FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UNCG Police Officer Taylor Trantham named Officer of the Year
UNC System President Margaret Spellings Highlights Efforts to Strengthen Campus Safety
CHAPEL HILL – The University of North Carolina System has named University of North Carolina at Greensboro Police Department Officer Taylor Trantham as its 2018 Officer of the Year. Officer Trantham received the award during the UNC Chiefs of Police Conference held on April 25 at the Spangler Center.
During the past year, Officer Trantham responded to more than 500 calls for service as the primary officer. Among the more notable responses, he helped extinguish a fire that occurred in the UNCG Auditorium during a dress rehearsal on April 4, 2017. Thanks to the efforts of the stage crew and Officer Trantham, the fire was contained and no serious injuries occurred.
Officer Trantham has also demonstrated a remarkable commitment the people in the community. He has led efforts to repair bikes for local children and regularly devotes his own time and money to ensure children in an adjacent neighborhood get to experience Halloween each year. Officer Trantham also collected donations in order to send a Hurricane Harvey Relief package for the officers and families of the Houston Police Department.
“This nomination is based on Officer Trantham’s act of exceptional valor and his outstanding and exceptional service,” said UNC System President Margaret Spellings. “Officer Trantham has repeatedly gone above and beyond the normal call of duty to enhance the safety of the community and strengthen community relations.”
Officer Trantham has been employed with the UNCG Police Department since July 2014. Since then he has received the UNCG Police Officer of the Year Award in 2015 and 2017.
“Officer Trantham has displayed an exemplary level of selfless commitment to our students, our campus and our community,” said University of North Carolina at Greensboro Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. “In addition to his vigilance in keeping us safe, he has shown the kind of care and compassion that I hope will serve as a model not just for our campus police, but for all of us at UNCG. We are so proud of Officer Trantham and congratulate him on this well-earned recognition.”
The UNC System places a high priority on ensuring safe campuses and top-quality emergency operations. As evidence of this commitment, the UNC System Office has for several years had a campus safety and emergency operations function which, among other things, coordinates with campus police departments, works closely with state, federal, and local police and emergency ops agencies, and programs and oversees emergency exercises and training. These exercises also include coordination with the Red Cross, local hospitals, and other volunteer agencies.
“Emergency preparedness and campus safety are constant priorities throughout the UNC System,” said President Spellings. “Our work to improve readiness never stops, and we must be relentless in ensuring our students are safe.”