Published: June 22, 2009 08:48 pm         

On the Move: June 23, 2009

On June 15, Indiana State Police Superintendent Paul Whitesell’s announced the promotion of trooper Kristopher N. Fitzgerald to the rank of sergeant, where he will serve as a crime scene investigator. He received this promotion through written testing and a competitive interview process.

As a crime scene investigator, a portion of his duties will include, but not be limited to, responding and conducting crime scene investigations, preserving, collecting and documenting forensic evidence, providing crime scene testimony for trials, and assisting officers and agencies with matters concerning crime scene investigations. He will primarily be responsible for crime scene investigations within the Terre Haute District.

Fitzgerald is an eight-year veteran of the department, having been assigned to the Lafayette District for his first two years before transferring to his home district of Terre Haute. He has been a road patrol trooper his entire career. During his years, Fitzgerald has received many awards for his DUI enforcement efforts, such as being the recipient of the Terre Haute District’s DUI award the last five years and the Tippecanoe County winner while stationed in Lafayette. Fitzgerald was also the recipient of the prestigious Kevin Artz Memorial Award for the Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year (2009) for his actions that saved the life of a 17-year-old female. While on the department, he has served as a field training officer, underwater search and recovery diver, crash reconstructionist, and a member of the tactical intervention platoon.

Fitzgerald is a Vigo County native, having graduated from Terre Haute North Vigo High School and Indiana State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology. He is married with one son and the family resides in northern Vigo County.



Jeanette Spradlin, Union Hospital quality management director, has been appointed by Dr. Patrick Gallagher, deputy director of the Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, to the 2009 board of examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The Award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive.

As an examiner, Spradlin is responsible for reviewing and evaluating applications submitted for the award. The board is composed of approximately 500 leading experts selected from industry, professional and trade organizations, education and health care organizations and government.

Those selected meet the highest standards of qualification and peer recognition. All members of the board must take part in a preparation course based on the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence and the scoring and evaluation processes for the Baldrige Award.

Awards may be given annually in each of six categories: manufacturing, service, small business, education, health care and nonprofit. Awards have been presented to 77 organizations, including last year’s award recipients, Cargill Corn Milling North America, Iredell-Statesville Schools, and Poudre Valley Health System.

Information about the Baldrige National Quality Program and the application process is available from the Baldrige National Quality Program, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Administration Building, Room A600, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1020, Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1020, For more information, call (301) 975-2036, fax (301) 948-3716 or visit www.nist.gov/baldrige.