Instead of business as usual, Lt. Milligan received a pleasant surprise as representatives from the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce announced his selection as the recipient of the 2011 Distinguished Public Service Award for Law Enforcement.
The Distinguished Public Service Award is given annually to recognize and publicly thank emergency service personnel for their extraordinary efforts in keeping Collier County residents safe.
Fran Haas, chairwoman of the chamber’s Law Enforcement Committee, presented the award to Lt. Milligan in a room full of Collier County Sheriff’s Office members, including Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk, and his wife and four of his seven children.
“You truly deserve the accolades and we are lucky to have someone like you serving our community,” Haas said.
Sheriff Rambosk nominated Lt. Milligan, who has been with the CCSO since 1986, for the award, saying he embodies the “Community, Safety, Service” values that make Collier County safe and desirable.
Lt. Milligan has served as commander of the Everglades substation for the past nine years and diligently works to build spirit and trust within the community. He has opened the lines of communication with a community that historically has been unapproachable by law enforcement.
Everglades residents appreciate Lt. Milligan’s commitment to their community through his involvement with Reach Out Everglades, the Special Olympics Torch Run and expanding the area’s Neighborhood Watch initiative. He has also played an instrumental role in bringing a national drug prevention program to the area. A permanent prescription drug drop-off box was recently installed at Everglades City Hall.
Residents also appreciate Lt. Milligan’s dedication to their children. He brought CCSO’s Build-A-Boat and Build-A-Chair programs to the area to teach children woodworking skills while promoting positive relationships with deputies. He was a guiding force behind the first Career Day at Everglades City School last November.
As Lt. Milligan walked into the room, the look of surprise on his face was apparent. He graciously accepted the award and thanked everyone for the honor.
“This is a teamwork award and I accept this on behalf of everyone’s work out in the Everglades district, Crime Prevention and Youth Relations bureaus and the rest of the agency,” Lt. Milligan said.
A formal awards presentation ceremony for all of the winners is scheduled for Oct. 12 at the Naples Hilton in North Naples during the Greater Naples Chamber’s annual Distinguished Public Service awards banquet.
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From left, Vadim Milligan, 16; Matt Milligan, 16; Sheriff Kevin J. Rambosk, Lt. Mark Milligan and his wife Lisa and Zak Milligan, 17, and Oleg Milligan, 13.
Photos by Cpl. Efrain Hernandez/CCSO(2)
