Henrico County employee Sarah Gray, a mental health clinician with Henrico Area Mental Health and Retardation Services (MH/MR), has won the eighth annual Excellence in Public Service Award. County Manager Virgil R. Hazelett, P.E. presented the award at a ceremony Tuesday.

The Excellence in Public Service Award recognizes a general government employee who consistently demonstrates and exemplifies outstanding public service. Nominees are chosen by their coworkers; only one of Henrico's nearly 3,880 general government employees receives the award each year.

Gray has been a part of the MH/MR staff since March 1992, working as a clinician in the Emergency Services Program. Her work - usually conducted on overnight shifts - takes her into local hospital emergency rooms, nursing homes, jails and other sites where she provides crisis intervention services and evaluates patients for temporary psychiatric detention. Hazelett applauded her work ethic, dedication and integrity, noting she is a role model and mentor for her colleagues.

Gray's work often goes unnoticed because it is done in the middle of the night, but her expertise and professionalism have earned her the respect and appreciation of police and hospital staffs throughout the community," Hazelett said. "She also has earned the trust of residents in need of her help, which is difficult to accomplish during a crisis." Gray noted that public service is a key priority for all MH/MR staff.

"Everyone pours their heart and soul into their work; it's why we've chosen the mental health profession," she said. "If I can make a difference in a crisis situation, if I can make the process a little easier for the family and hospital staff involved - I find that very rewarding."

DEPARTMENT	OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE
Department of Community Revitalization	Mary E. Reynolds
Office of the County Attorney	Edward G. Soles
County Manager's Office	Gladys M. Carter
Department of Finance	Carolyn Snavely
Division of Fire	William F. Fulton
Department of General Services	Abigail Ribakov
Department of Human Resources	Rebecca L. Simulcik
Henrico Juvenile Detention Home	Angriess F. Scott
James River Juvenile Detention Center	Tonya R. Gholson
Henrico Area Mental Health & Retardation Services	Sarah E. Gray
The Permit Center	Charlotte W. Whitten
Department of Planning	Scott D. McDermott
Public Library	Adrienne J. Minock
Department of Public Relations and Media Services	Benjamen A. Sheppard
Department of Public Utilities	Jerry G. Branch
Division of Recreation & Parks	Dolores O. Couvelha
Sheriff's Office	Sonya Y. Reynolds
Department of Social Services	Sandra K.Young

Read about our 2006 Excellence in Public Service Award winners.