July 18, 2016
West Columbia, S.C.– Lexington Medical Center police officer James Michael “Mike” Brazell has received the prestigious J.P. Strom Award from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. This honor is the top award in the Basic Law Enforcement Class and goes to the student who has attained the highest cumulative academic score for all tests.
“This award shows Mr. Brazell’s dedication to law enforcement and his academic excellence,” said Major Matthew Braxton, interim Chief of Police/Director of Public Safety at Lexington Medical Center. “It also demonstrates the quality of officers employed within our hospital police department.”
Mr. Brazell was one of 67 people from around South Carolina who began training on April 17 to become certified law enforcement officers. Participants in the 12-week course completed six tests on legal processes, and showed proficiency in defensive tactics, driving, firearms, and driving under the influence (DUI) standard field sobriety application and breath alcohol analysis.
A minimum of 96% average had to be obtained to qualify to receive the J.P. Strom Award and no student who failed to complete the testing aspects or had any disciplinary issues was eligible for the award. Mr. Brazell is Lexington Medical Center’s first J.P. Strom Award winner.
The Lexington Medical Center Department of Public Safety is an accredited law enforcement agency. In 2006, Lexington Medical Center became the first hospital in South Carolina to create its own police department. The hospital’s police officers have the authority to carry weapons, issue citations and make arrests, similar to any other police officer or county deputy. There are currently 24 police officers on the hospital’s force.
The department also coordinates hospital safety efforts ranging from crime prevention, criminal investigation and crime reporting to emergency preparedness, escorts and vehicle assistance.
Lexington Medical Center is a 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, South Carolina. It anchors a health care network that includes five community medical centers and employs a staff of more than 8,000 health care professionals. The hospital is ranked best hospital in the Columbia Metro and #2 hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report and was named one of the “Best Places to Work in South Carolina” by SC Biz News, in partnership with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and Best Companies Group. Lexington Medical Cancer Center is an accredited Cancer Center of Excellence and has a clinical research and education affiliation with MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. The network includes a cardiovascular program recognized by the American College of Cardiology as South Carolina's first HeartCARE Center. The network also has an occupational health center, the largest skilled nursing facility in the Carolinas, an Alzheimer's care center and more than 70 physician practices. Lexington Medical Center operates one of the busiest Emergency departments in South Carolina, treating nearly 100,000 patients each year. The hospital delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. Its postgraduate medical education programs include family medicine and transitional year residencies.
