OAKWOOD — The evidence is strewn around Cpl. Danny Sridej’s cubicle in the Oakwood Police Department, including one pile featuring burglary tools, a backpack and computer monitor.

Several items evoke a story, ones that Sridej is eager to tell.

“One of my goals has been to work in investigation,” he said in an interview at his office Tuesday.

“I’m helping the victims to assure them that ... we’re going to work on their case and once we arrest the (suspect), we let them know and (provide) whatever assistance they need.”

Sridej’s work with the department has caught the eye of Oakwood Police Chief Randall Moon, who named Sridej as the city’s officer of the year for 2009. Moon recognized Sridej at the Oakwood City Council’s meeting Monday night.

Moon said that because of “manning situations,” Sridej’s workload increased in February, when he was named the department’s main investigator.

But Sridej “has not complained nor subsided in his pursuit of justice,” the chief wrote in a letter recognizing Sridej. “(He) has worked unceasingly to ensure that each case gets the proper attention and closure.”

Moon also cited a few statistics, for good measure.

Since Jan. 1, 2009, Sridej has been involved in 67 arrests and investigated 165 cases. He opened 326 cases through November “with at least a phone call to victims listed on a report.”

Sridej also has worked outside the department, helping the city of Chamblee bust a gambling operation that involved 14 arrests and seizures of 68 machines and three handguns.

A native of Thailand, he grew up in a military family, with his family settling in Hinesville. He served in the U.S. Army for two years.

After the service, he worked in a volunteer program run by the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.

“That’s how it all got started,” Sridej said.

He went on to spend five years at the Gwinnett County Police Department.

Sridej was hired in Oakwood in September 2007 as a patrol officer. He was promoted to corporal in 2008 and was later chosen as the department’s first drug/gang investigator.

“Cpl. Sridej hit the ground running and hasn’t turned back,” Moon said.

Sridej, having worked at two large metro Atlanta departments, said he’s content where he is.
“The people are nice. The traffic is the same but not as crowded,” he said.