Williston officer to receive award

Joey Patsourakos, the Williston police corporal who last month single-handedly captured a dangerous fugitive, will be on his way to Philadelphia today to be presented with the first Law Enforcement Cross award from a nationwide group that honors first responders.

The national organization contacted Patsourakos on Facebook over the weekend after someone had nominated him for the award.

On Aug. 20, Patsourakos, who was off duty at the time, captured Perry Sullivan, a Georgia man who had been the object of an intense, three-day manhunt after a Georgia deputy had been overpowered and his guns and patrol car were stolen.

After a story about Patsourakos' heroics was published Aug. 26 in The Post and Courier, someone brought it to the attention of the First Responder Institute of Heraldry, a nonprofit group based in Pennsylvania.

"His actions were truly exceptional," said William Finegan, the group's president. "We were able to determine, just from reading the story, and from follow-up conversations with him, that his years of training and experience have permeated every fiber of his being and he was following his gut when he did what he did."

The group invited Patsourakos and his wife to be their guests at "An Evening With Heroes" on Friday. It is the group's inaugural fundraising event, Finegan said. It was timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and will include recognition of many heroes from 9/11.

In selecting Patsourakos as the first recipient of its Law Enforcement Cross, the group is setting the

criteria for future recipients, Finegan said. The Law Enforcement Cross is for a law enforcement officer who demonstrates extreme valor.

Finegan said what Patsourakos did certainly qualifies.

"Knowing that there is an armed and dangerous felon on the loose, and to intentionally put yourself in front of him, one on one, with only your attitude and your weapon, and then for him to unilaterally surrender, that's an epic story," Finegan said.

Patsourakos said he was shocked when he got the invitation. Patsourakos and his wife were planning to fly to Philadelphia today.

"I had the option to stay the whole weekend, but we're flying back Saturday so I can work Saturday night," he said.

It's not that he couldn't get off from work, he said.

"I've got four kids I've got to get somebody to take care of, everything from a 10-month-old to a 16-year-old," he said. "We really wanted to get back here for them."