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NCO named 2014 Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jeff Parkinson
  • 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Staff Sgt. Jason Colas, 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron security forces ground intelligence NCO in-charge, was named the 2014 Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year during the Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Appreciation Lunch, May 12, 2015.

The appreciation lunch is held annually during police week to remember and honor fallen police officers and to name the Okaloosa County Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

"It's a great honor to be recognized amongst all of the Law Enforcement Agencies in Okaloosa County,” Colas said. “I would like to thank all of the Defenders of the 1 SOSFS, and I am privileged to be a part of their team."

To win this award, Colas had to beat out high quality competition from Eglin AFB, Fl., the Okaloosa Sheriff's Department and the surrounding Police Departments.

“I could not be more proud of Jason and how he represented our great unit,” said Maj. Keith Quick, 1st SOSFS commander.

Colas developed information about local gangs in the local area and exposed them to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. To help ensure up to date information was discovered in a timely basis, he worked with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Hurlburt Field Staff Judge Advocate office and set up a Task Force.

“Many people choose Okaloosa County as a destination for vacations and to retire,” Colas said. “At no time do people wonder 'will I be safe here?', while visiting the Emerald Coast. This can be directly attributed to the men and women who protect our streets.”

Because of his intimate knowledge on these gangs, he was requested by the AFOSI Forensic Psychologist to testify at a general court-martial about an Air Force member who was involved with a local gang and was charged with numerous counts of sexual assault. The outcome was guilty. The accused is now serving 30 years behind bars and received a Dishonorable Discharge.