Madison police officer honored as officer of the year

By By Thomas Tingle/Record Managing Editor
Madison Police Officer Steve Wilkerson has been honored as one of the four local officers of the year by the Optimist clubs of Madison County.
Wilkerson was recognized at the annual Respect for Law Banquet.
Wilkerson joined the Madison Police Department in 1997 and serves as the department's community policing coordinator. Since joining the force, Wilkerson has helped in the development of Madison's first substation off Wall Triana Highway and recently helped in the development of a tutoring program at the substation.
"Steve was honored because of his willingness to help in many ways. He
accepts additional responsibly and extra duties, because he understands this is what is required to move the department forward, said Madison Police Chief Dan Busken. "Steve looks at ways to improve things rather than just accepting things because that is the
way they have always been done."
Wilkerson served 10 years in the U.S. Army and graduated from Northeast Alabama Police Academy in Jacksonville on March 27, 1998. Prior to attending the academy, Wilkerson was instrumental in obtaining donations from local and area businesses to purchase clothing and toys for needy children in Madison.
Wilkerson remains active in charitable events in Madison.
Betsy Fletcher, a Huntsville Police Department safety officer responsible for school crossings, Lt. Winnie Bailey, commander of the Huntsville Police Department's Internal Affairs Division and the department's accreditation manager, and Officer Eddie Bomagat, known in several Huntsville schools as "Officer Boomer" and who works with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program, were the three other officers honored.