Above & Beyond
The Rotary Club of Tulsa's Above and Beyond Awards recognize Tulsa's police officer and firefighter of the year. Founded in 2008, the awards recognize these public servants for oustanding acts of character, commitment and compassion to both their professional and community.
Nominated by their peers, these award recipients have gone "Above and Beyond" the requirements of duty and exemplify the values reflected in the Rotary Four-Way Test. Award nominations were provided by each department and award recipients were selected by a committee of the Rotary Club of Tulsa.
TULSA POLICE AND FIRE PERSONNEL: Download an entry form here
2011 FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Claremore native Jason Large grew up with Oklahoma's wild and dangerous weather. But nothing except for his calm focus and dedication to helping others could have prepared him for September 21, 2009. An isolated flash flood hit Tulsa and a car was reportedly being swept under water near 21st Street North and Mingo. Jason's unit was dispatched to the scene along with other Tulsa Firefighters.
They arrived to see a car's taillights barely visible as the water rose rapidly. Jason was sent to check on occupants of the vehicle while the fire engine reversed out of rising waters. In the vehicle, Jason found a 62-year old male with his nose and mouth up against the roof for air to breathe. Jason stood in chest deep water as he insructed the man to move to the back seat, which was higher because the rear of the car was floating.
Soon, Jason was himself in chin-deep water. Without a command and with no help from others, Jason went under water, grabbed the man and pulled him out. With water up to his nose, Jason thrust the man onto his shoulder and carried him to high ground and safety. After the incident, Jason's superior said that "This scenario was a true, act now emergency. Immediate intervention by Jason allowed this man to escape a doomed outcome."
A trained EMT, Jason became a Tulsa Firefighter in 2005. He and his wife, Mandy, have two sons. They live in Claremore where they attend church and are active in youth sports. As his nominator for this award stated, "Jason's height of 6 foot, 5 inches was a benefit. The heart and integrity to intervene now is not a benefit of height." The Rotary Club of Tulsa is honored to present Jason Large with the 2011 Above and Beyond Award as Tulsa's Firefighter of the Year.
2011 POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Detective Darren Carlock is a 25-year veteran of the Tulsa Police Department and the most experienced and senior investigator in the Department's Child Crisis Unit. During his ten-year-tenure as a child crisis investigator, Darren has successfully worked thousands of cases in which children were the victims. Darren has either trained or helped train every other detective in the unit. With a reputation for his tireless pursuit of the truth, Darren routinely goes above and beyond normal protocal to find justice for victims who are often too young to speak for themselves.
As a child crisis detective, Darren faces the most appalling and disturbing crimes in our society including sex crimes against children, physical abuse of children and child fatalities and homicides. The responsibilities of the job can be extremely taxing on the emotions and have forced many other detectives to find new positions after only a short time on the job. Despite the emotional rigors, Darren finds the energy and spirit to push on because he knows completng a case the best way possible can prevent future crimes against children.
At home, Darren and his wife of 24 years have a special place in their hearts for children. After they were married, they served as foster parents for about ten years, with dozens of children unde the age of 3 coming through their home. They now have five children of their own who range from grade school age to college age. Over the years, family time has been spent with a slew of activities including football, baseball, softball, orchestra and Boy Scouts. A Tulsa native, Darren attended Nathan Hale High School and the University of Oklahoma. He serves on three statewide child crisis boards.
In his nomination for Rotary's Above & Beyond Award, one of Darren's peers said, "In the last year Detective Carlock has been the primary investigator assigned to several potentially problematic child death cases ... cases that could have potentially fallen through the cracks had Detectve Carlock not stayed steadfast in his investigation to pursue the truth as to what happened to these children." For this Service Above Self commitment to our city's young people, the Rotary Club of Tulsa salutes Detective Darren Carlock.
