Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing

Criminal Investigations

Detective Matthew Newbold, Polk County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)

In 1986, Teresa Scalf, a young nurse, was brutally murdered in her own residence in Lakeland, Florida. The suspect’s blood was left behind at the scene. Although several persons of interest were identified during the original investigation, the suspect was never identified or apprehended, and the case went unsolved. Detective Matthew Newbold, a member of the Cold Case Homicide Unit, was assigned this investigation in 2015. He diligently worked the case for seven years seeking to provide the family with answers. An initial DNA profile generated from the suspect’s blood sat for years without producing a lead. As time went on, however, technology improved and Detective Newbold learned about DNA tracing using genealogy research. He spent months learning the nuances of this new technology and began to resubmit past DNA samples. In December 2022, the remaining suspect DNA from Ms. Scalf’s case was submitted for genealogy testing; a month later, a very distant relative of the murder suspect was tentatively identified. Finally, after 36 years, the investigation positively identified a suspect through genealogy tracing and through locating the suspect’s living adult child. The investigation was the first at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to be solved through genealogy-based investigative techniques. Detective Newbold has been a loyal and dedicated member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 24 years, bringing justice to a myriad of victims and their families. His dedication to professional development through technological advancements and his relentless pursuit of justice have made the county a safer place to live and contributed greatly to the success of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Liz Grant, Kennewick Police Department (Washington)

In November 2020, Kennewick Police Department (KPD) patrol officers responded to the rape of a female escort at gunpoint. The victim did not respond to requests for additional information, and the case was closed pending further information. In the next two years, two similar cases, these involving robbery as well, were reported to the neighboring Richland Police Department. In May 2022, Kennewick patrol officers responded to the rape and robbery of another female escort. This time the victim was able to provide the perpetrator’s phone number and license plate, and a suspect was identified. The case was then assigned to KPD Detective Liz Grant. Detective Grant took the initiative to review the earlier cases in Kennewick and Richland, finding enough similarities to justify reopening them. She contacted and built trusting relationships with each of the victims and gathered information linking the suspect to all reported cases. She then used both social and traditional media to positively identify 10 additional, previously unreported rape victims who were willing to cooperate with the investigation. The suspect was arrested, and DNA analysis later positively linked him to several of the cases. The suspect was charged with more than 20 felony counts. While the case made its way through the court system, Detective Grant remained in regular contact with each of the victims, reassuring them of the process and their safety. She sat with each victim as they met with the prosecuting attorney. The case went to trial in March 2024, and after three weeks of witness testimony, the suspect was found guilty of 11 counts of first-degree rape, six counts of first-degree robbery, and four counts of attempted first-degree robbery. The suspect was sentenced in May 2024 to 226 years in prison. Without Detective Grant’s dedication and commitment, this case could have ended with one victim and one conviction. She built trust with each victim and ensured their stories were told. After the verdict was read, she received several emotional phone calls from victims thanking her for listening and believing in them and for helping them get justice. She has shown her dedication to the KPD’s mission to “Provide Professional Police Services with Integrity, Courage, and Commitment.”

Detective Tyler Norman, Salt Lake City Police Department (Utah)

Since his assignment as a full-time gang detective in September 2022, Detective Tyler Norman has quickly positioned himself as a leading gang expert in Salt Lake County. He is often called upon to assist with identification
of gang members, provide insight into current gang trends, and establish gang motives for crimes being prosecuted. In the fall of 2022, Detective Norman investigated a series of drive-by shootings in Salt Lake City. Gang and robbery detectives had made several failed attempts to jail the offenders but reached no permanent resolution. As Detective Norman began gathering intelligence to forecast future violence and to expose incriminating evidence, he found something much larger: Members of a local street gang were operating a criminal enterprise involving the distribution of THC cartridges and the illegal purchase and transfer of firearms. During a six-month period, Detective Norman worked tirelessly building a criminal enterprise case against a number of gang members and associates. He built his case around a social media Title III warrant, monitoring several social media accounts; he met with prosecutors and other detectives and read both state and federal statutes to learn how to build the warrant and direct his investigation. Because of staffing and financial constraints, Detective Norman did much of the monitoring and field surveillance personally. He scoured thousands of messages a day to extract the evidence needed to satisfy statutory elements, spending hundreds of hours on physical surveillance and preparing reports, while still managing unrelated gang-related cases coming in from the field. Through Detective Norman’s hard work and sacrifice, 19 people have been arrested on or charged with felony charges related to drug distribution and firearms violations. As a group, these individuals are believed to have been responsible for more than a dozen shootings since 2022. Fourteen guns, more than $35,000 in narcotics proceeds, and nearly $450,000 worth of narcotics have been seized. The intelligence extracted from Detective Norman’s investigation will fuel many peripheral investigations and has already led to the arrests of ranking members of the most violent street gang in Utah. The work Detective Norman has done, the effort he has given, and the sacrifices he has made in the past year cannot be overstated. His past year was one of exponential professional growth achieved through relentless effort and, at times, overwhelming sacrifice.

Police Officer Reece Walno, Spearfish Police Department (South Dakota)

Throughout 2023, Officer Reece Walno showed his commitment to his department and community and his strong and diligent work ethic by personally fielding more than 1,200 calls for service. One traffic stop stands out from the rest: On August 8, Officer Walno stopped a vehicle for speeding and equipment violations and observed multiple indicators of criminal activity. He obtained consent for a K9 free-air sniff, which provided additional narcotic detection resources. During the vehicle search, suspected methamphetamine and other drug paraphernalia were located and seized. Walno’s training and experience led him to determine the evidence located was involved in the distribution of illegal controlled substances. The driver was later taken into custody for active arrest warrants and other felony and misdemeanor charges. Despite call volume and shift shortages, Officer Walno continued his proactive investigation and seized the suspect’s cell phone. He was granted a search warrant for the phone and discovered on it an end-to-end encryption application commonly used by drug traffickers. In the application, he observed information suggesting further narcotics activity occurring through the United States Postal Service (USPS). He provided the USPS Postal Inspector with actionable intelligence leading to the seizure of a dark web marijuana parcel from Wyoming, and his continued work later led to the seizure of a USPS parcel bound for Spearfish from California containing approximately one pound of suspected methamphetamine. A federal search warrant was granted based on Officer Walno’s diligent case investigation and attention to South Dakota Codified Laws. It should be noted that once the phone was placed into sleep mode from the initial data review, the information from the encrypted application was deleted per the application settings. If he had not taken the time to locate the information in the application and conduct proper documentation during the initial search, this intelligence would have been lost. Officer Walno completed this high-level narcotics investigation while also meeting a high demand for calls for service and continuing other proactive police activities. His investigative tenacity and attention to detail produced significant, well-documented intelligence which allowed law enforcement to stop more than a pound of controlled substances, in addition to dark web marijuana, from being distributed to Spearfish and surrounding communities.

Field Operations

Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)

When the City of South Bay contracted with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office to provide police services, Deputy Jahmar Robinson was assigned to this community. In a short time, Deputy Robinson established himself as a trusted deputy and a role model for South Bay’s youth. By building relationships with South Bay residents, he has successfully investigated cases ranging from drug and gun seizures to violent crimes. On one call for service, Deputy Robinson responded to a victim who had just been stabbed with a large knife. He was able to match the victim’s description of the suspect with phone and text tips from community members—tips they provided because of the trust he had established with them. From his intimate knowledge of the city and its residents, Deputy Robinson was able to find and take the subject into custody. On another occasion, homicide detectives responded to a drive-by shooting. The eyewitnesses did not feel comfortable talking to the detectives and would only talk to Deputy Robinson; he was able to act as a liaison between the eyewitnesses and the detectives, which resulted in a successful investigation and prosecution.
Deputy Robinson stops potential violent crimes by providing additional patrols in the sections of the city where he believes gangs may commit crimes they have posted about on social media. He provides the gang detectives with information on suspected gang members, helping the detectives build strong cases for prosecution. Deputy Robinson’s community initiatives extend beyond crime prevention and response. He has assisted people in the community by providing information about the childcare resources of the Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County and about local shelters and safe havens for domestic violence victims. He facilitated a community outreach to local schools with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office therapy dog unit and has even partnered with fellow deputies to provide needed new shoes to a 13-year-old boy. Deputy Robinson continues to set the example of what a deputy sheriff should be, representing the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the city of South Bay with the utmost integrity and commitment to service.

Lance Corporal Justin Boyd, Columbia Police Department (South Carolina)

Lance Corporal Justin Boyd is a member of the Southeast Region Community Response Team and is consistently a dependable and hardworking officer. Whenever a task is presented, LCpl. Boyd is always the first to volunteer, regardless of his other duties. Community members regularly approach the department to express their gratitude for his hard work and dedication to making their neighborhoods safer. To maintain open lines of communication, LCpl. Boyd gives community members his cell phone number and encourages them to call him. LCpl. Boyd is one of only two officers at the Columbia Police Department (CPD) certified in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This skill allows him to conduct site surveys for homes and commercial properties and advise on landscape and lighting changes to decrease the likelihood of crime. Over the years, LCpl. Boyd has proven to be a stellar investigator by following up on leads and building cases on repeat offenders, making the region a safer place. For example, he led two agencies working together to build a case against a prolific property offender in South Kilbourne and Rosewood who violated his probation conditions, leading to his being picked up on a warrant before he could victimize anyone else. In another example, LCpl. Boyd worked with the Melrose Heights neighborhood association, Code Enforcement, and a mental health liaison to provide an individual with a mental illness the help he required, while also providing relief from nuisance calls to the community. He also spearheaded a project to address a homeless encampment at an overpass, working alongside other agencies to find safer, more appropriate placement for the residents of the encampment and with City of Columbia Code Enforcement and Solid Waste to restore the area. In addition to attending community meetings and addressing community concerns, LCpl. Boyd is also an active member of the CPD SWAT team and a Field Training Officer; he regularly steps up both to train young officers on other squads and to assist as an additional instructor for officer candidates. LCpl. Boyd chooses to live in the community he serves, and demonstrates his level of commitment to community members every day by going above and beyond his required duties. The rapport he has built with the residents of Columbia encourages their active participation in crime reduction, which in turn helps all law enforcement officers to better serve the community. LCpl. Boyd is a model officer and is an asset to the CPD and residents of Columbia.

Detective / Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy, La Marque Police Department (Texas)

Detective / Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy has served with the La Marque Police Department since 2017. Detective Leacroy’s work involves combating every type of crime, from financial and property crimes to aggravated sexual assaults and murders. He has worked alongside numerous local, state, and federal agencies, and was deputized by the U.S. Marshals for Operation Washout, which targeted countywide narcotics and violent crime offenders. Since his first homicide assignment in 2020, Detective Leacroy has been involved in a number of notable investigations. In May 2024, Detective Leacroy was nominated by his department for the coveted 2023 Fifty Club of Galveston County Officer of the Year in recognition for his noteworthy accomplishments for his agency and community. Alongside serving as a major crimes detective, Detective Leacroy volunteered to serve as a Community Policing Officer. Since then, he has worked to prevent and control crime in the Gulfway business district via the preventive policing strategies inherent to the community-oriented policing philosophy. In addition, Detective Leacroy serves as the assistant lead of the department’s recruiting section, responsible for recruiting and presenting new candidates with the agency’s employment opportunities. Thanks to his leadership, the department will soon be fully staffed for the first time in at least 20 years. Detective Leacroy believes what has made him successful in law enforcement and investigations is his ability to communicate clearly and empathetically. His proficient approach in solving major crime cases and assuming additional community policing duties has proven highly effective and rewarding for the department’s field operations.

Innovations in Community Policing

Corporal Adrian Maldonado, Deputy James Mackey, Deputy Jason Coker, Deputy Tammy Fox, and Deputy Yanick Exceus, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (Florida)

In 2020, Deputy James Mackey and Corporal Adrian Maldonado were tasked with addressing Tent City, a homeless encampment in John Prince Park. Over the next few years, by forging connections and positive relationships with the homeless, Deputy Mackey and Cpl. Maldonado helped relocate more than 200 people from the park into shelters and hotels, in the process becoming advocates and voices for the homeless. Seeing the need for still more services and observing a disconnect among existing organizations, they established the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s first Homeless Intervention Team. The team established the Homeless Assistance Account in partnership with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation; Cpl. Maldonado and Deputy Mackey contribute their own money to this account to help cover travel expenses, car repairs, and gas for people left stranded. Cpl. Maldonado also created his own bicycle repair shop to help the homeless with needed repairs. The pair also created a comprehensive 40-hour training program to connect other law enforcement officers with resources and problem-solving tactics to address homelessness. In late 2020, Deputy Jason Coker met Pastor Dan West, who had recently started a food bank / distribution center called Restoration Bridge International (RBI). Deputy Coker involved his community policing partners, Deputies Tammy Fox and Yanick Exceus; together they began delivering supplies from RBI to families and homeless persons struggling to acquire food because of COVID-19 or unemployment and elderly residents who were unable to travel or at high risk of infection. Seeing the widespread need for basic food staples, these deputies partnered with the San Castle community and established seven food pantries throughout the area. As the need continued to grow, the deputies organized food distributions every Thursday (in partnership with RBI) in four low-income areas in their district. The food distributions were valued by the community and instrumental in helping to lower family dynamic stressors. Following the success and positive community impact of the food distributions, several other community policing units within the agency have begun using the food distribution model developed by Deputies Coker, Fox, and Exceus in their own areas. Through the community partnership with RBI alone, more than ten million pounds of food have been distributed to families in Palm Beach County, greatly improving the lives of Palm Beach County residents. Cpl. Maldonado, Deputy Mackey, Deputy Coker, Deputy Fox, and Deputy Exceus continue to demonstrate the core values and mission of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office by developing innovative ways to use community policing to improve the lives of the people they serve.

Detective Edwin Hugh and Police Officer Thomas Joy, Suffolk County Police Department (New York)

Ten years ago, Detective Edwin Hugh and Officer Thomas Joy created a police fraternal organization called the Suffolk County Police Asian Jade Society—an organization where Asian American police officers can collaborate to serve as community liaisons; encourage Asian Americans to serve in law enforcement; and celebrate Asian American heritage, culture, cuisines, languages, and religions. After the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Officer Joy and Detective Hugh offered transportation to testing sites. They collected and provided meals, personal comfort items, and personal protective equipment for hospital staff and other essential workers. When vaccinations first became available and were in high demand but short supply, they organized volunteers with computers to assist the elderly and needy in navigating the vaccine registration process. Asian Americans were severely impacted by hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Detective Hugh and Officer Joy have been in the forefront of providing information and support to the Asian American community on Long Island, bringing police to support a “Stop Asian Hate” rally and organizing people to attend. They were instrumental in communicating to the public the police department and District Attorney’s Office’s hate crimes resources. When a mosque was vandalized, Detective Hugh and Officer Joy raised money to help clean up the damage and organize a food drive. When a Sikh teen was assaulted, Detective Hugh and Officer Joy were instrumental in connecting the family with hate crimes detectives and enabling a successful arrest. When the Muslim American community requested greater police presence and collaboration during the Muslim holidays of Eid and Ramadan, Detective Hugh and Officer Joy assisted the police commissioner in developing the county’s very first Eid and Ramadan safety conference. As a recruitment officer, Officer Joy has leveraged his close community ties to double the department’s number of Asian American and Muslim American officers. He was also an initial adv cate of the department’s Community Ambassador program; Asian American community ambassadors are now instrumental in selecting and appointing precinct commanders, holding town hall meetings, recruiting, and serving as liaisons between the community and the agency. The partnership between Detective Hugh and Officer Joy has been a great benefit to both the department and the Asian American community it serves. Asian Americans and religious minority groups like Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus frequently have little representation and access to government and law enforcement. Yet today in Suffolk County, this partnership has made the department more responsive to residents and communities and allowed minority groups a high level of access to and confidence in the department.

Officer Wesley Griffith and Officer Bill Koehn, Overland Park Police Department (Kansas)

Officer Bill Koehn and Officer Wes Griffith comprise the Overland Park Police Department’s Crime Prevention Team, part of the Community-Oriented Policing and Problem-Solving Unit. The team provides physical security assessments for all properties in Overland Park (OP) as a free service and has conducted more than 120 such assessments since January 2021, as well as more than 390 presentations to residents and businesses on workplace violence and personal safety. Beyond these responsibilities, they have used their knowledge, skills, and abilities to develop two new programs, Steadfast OP and OP Resolute, to bring proven crime-prevention methods to even more community members. Officer Griffith developed Steadfast OP in 2020 to apply Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles across a subdivision or homeowner’s association. After meeting with neighborhood leadership, the team distributes residential security survey forms to the residents and then conducts a Safety Social, where they provide education about CPTED principles, personal safety, and crime trends. The final step is an overnight security survey for the neighborhood, in which the officers examine the lighting and look for blind spots, open doors, visible valuables, and other opportunities for crime. When all steps are completed, the neighborhood is presented with two metal signs in a presentation documented on the department’s social media. Officer Griffith also sends a biannual newsletter to all certified communities. Since 2020, 16 neighborhoods have been certified, with more currently in different stages of the process. In less than four years, it is estimated that more than 13,000 residents have been positively impacted by the program. In 2022, Officers Koehn and Griffith developed OP Resolute, a version of Steadfast OP designed to be adapted to any type of business. For the program’s launch with local hotels, Officers Griffith and Koehn covered topics like human trafficking, indicators of drug usage or distribution, prostitution, and deterrence of auto-related crimes. As well as the physical security and lighting survey, participating businesses receive a window sticker and a flier on crime prevention for their reception area. Officer Koehn and Officer Griffith serve as the face of the Overland Park Police Department on many issues. Their presentations, education, and security surveys are invaluable. Despite their workload, they are constantly looking for new opportunities to engage and help the community. The Steadfast OP and OP Resolute programs are innovative and adaptive ways to connect with and empower community members to reduce criminal opportunities. These officers exemplify community partnerships, organizational transformation, and problem solving—the pillars of community-oriented policing.

Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez, Manassas City Police Department (Virginia)

The Manassas City Police Department (MCPD)’s Community Vitality Officer program, led by Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez, created the Parent E3 Series to engage, educate, and empower parents and caregivers to address at-risk behaviors. The program consists of a dinner for guests and volunteers provided by donations and department funding. A subject matter expert gives a lecture; before and after, guests meet with community stakeholders, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government entities at resource tables. Finally, there is a panel question-and-answer session with the lecturer and other experts. Parent E3 is currently on its third installment. This year’s topics were Mental Health, Truancy/ Absenteeism, Cyber Bullying / Internet Safety, Human Trafficking, Gang Awareness, Substance Abuse, and Youth Violence Prevention and Mitigation. MPO Rodriquez has pushed the program to evolve, and it has been reevaluated after each series to look for areas of improvement. Manassas City Public Schools (MCPS), a key partner, has helped contribute some significant changes, moving the event from a local church to Osbourn High School and introducing simultaneous headset interpretation in Spanish. Partnering with MCPS has increased the program’s marketing outreach, doubling attendance from 2022 to 2023.
MCPS has also coordinated child care through a school club for parents with younger children. Parent E3 is data-driven, with survey questionnaires handed out at each session. Residents can provide feedback on the session and can make suggestions; when parents commented that they wanted their children involved, the MCPD created a new topic on Youth Violence Prevention and Mitigation, with a panel of students who had participated in one of the many MCPD youth engagement programs facilitated by MPO Rodriquez, a former school resource officer. MPO Rodriquez’s collaboration with MCPS has led to increased positive communication between the police, the school system, and residents and created a platform to bring together resources and to spearhead other MCPD initiatives, such as the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicle community outreach effort to educate parents and new drivers on driving safety concerns. MPO Rodriquez’s vision to engage, educate, and empower through Parent E3 embodies the MCPD’s commitment to support 21st-century policing strategies and to reinforce the importance of community engagement in public safety.

Master Police Officer Shauna Moller, Manassas City Police Department (Virginia)

Ever since moving into her role as a community resource officer, Master Police Officer Shauna Moller has done everything she can to alleviate the impact of mental health crisis calls on the Manassas City Police Department. If MPO Moller notices a certain subject’s name showing up in multiple daily briefs or reports, she reaches out to the subject and proactively offers resources. She introduced the Greater Prince William Outreach Form and requested that a form be submitted whenever there is a call for service with a subject who needs further mental health services; she has completed more than 100 of these outreach referrals herself, connecting individuals with much-needed services. This outside-the-box approach has not only led to positive outcomes for people in crisis but has also helped police department resources go further. It has also reduced by more than 50 percent the time that officers spend at the hospital on custody orders. She also redesigned the department’s resource pamphlets and designed a new pamphlet listing mental health–related resources to provide to people in crisis. To promote mental health and well-being, MPO Moller worked with the department’s employee assistance counselor to create a suicide prevention presentation for employees. The presentation reviewed warning signs and identified support programs provided through the department, human resources, and several outside services. Promoting mental well-being is hig lighted in the department’s strategic plan; programs like this demonstrate how MPO Moller cares for the individuals in her department and her commitment to them. MPO Moller has also assisted with several special problems that have arisen in the city. During an abatement process, she invited specialists from mental health and opioid addiction services to attend a meeting with the homeowners and provide additional resources. She created a domestic violence awareness event that brought together numerous community resources that support domestic violence victims in the community. In addition, she has worked with the Georgetown South Community to implement the Girls on the Run program, in which 20 girls have participated alongside 14 volunteers from police and fire/EMS. All these examples show how MPO Moller’s innovative approach positively affected the community. She has embraced her role as a community resource officer and has helped to implement positive change throughout the entire department.

Criminal Investigations

Sergeant David A. Benjamin, Norfolk Police Department (Virginia)

In March 2015, Anjelica “A.J.” Hadsell—home for spring break—went missing. Sergeant (formerly Detective) David A. Benjamin and his colleagues at the Norfolk Police Department immediately suspected foul play, but because A.J.’s fate was unknown, the investigation became complex and wide-ranging. Despite A.J.’s stepfather’s attempts to distract detectives by throwing suspicion on others, Benjamin and his team secured a variety of digital evidence linking him to A.J.’s disappearance— and found the young woman’s remains more than 50 miles away several weeks after she had vanished. Sergeant Benjamin worked tirelessly with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non–law enforcement organizations, for the next three years to develop evidence that led to the indictment of the stepfather for murdering A.J. and illegally disposing of her remains. It took yet another four years of rescheduling, delays, and even a mistrial for the matter to be concluded, when the stepfather was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life (plus 15 years) in prison. Throughout the investigation, Benjamin remained steadfast in pursuing justice on A.J.’s behalf. The investigation of this disappearance was one of the longest-running in the Norfolk Police Department’s history. It involved coordination and teamwork among agencies and organizations at many levels. Sergeant Benjamin, through two promotions and various changes of assignment, made considerable personal and professional sacrifices in those seven years to bring the case to its just conclusion.

Detective Christopher Crawford, Maine State Police Department

The sexual assault of a child is horrific and life-changing. Unfortunately, too often society addresses such crimes in ways that can retraumatize survivors. Even in jurisdictions with no statute of limitations on prosecution of child sexual abuse, adults who were victimized as children often remain silent rather than subject themselves to the scrutiny that comes with being identified. In Maine, using state laws governing the recording of video calls (which took place much more frequently with the advent of the pandemic), Detective Christopher Crawford devised an investigative strategy that yielded indisputable evidence implicating a physician’s assistant who had been assaulting boys and young men in Maine and four other states since the late 1960s. The suspect deployed numerous legal maneuvers to evade indictment, but Crawford diligently assembled so many interviews that the case against him was overwhelming. For three years, Crawford maintained communication with more than 20 confirmed survivors and their families, as well as others who preferred to remain anonymous, until the offender was convicted and sentenced in August 2021. Detective Crawford continues to be instrumental in solving sexual assault cases in the state of Maine. His professional tenacity and personal com- passion bring comfort to survivors and justice to those who have done them harm.

Detective Kimberly Laster and Detective Maria Llovio, Sarasota Police Department (Florida)

In 2022, two unhoused women were sexually assaulted and strangled to death in less than three weeks within a half-mile of each other in Sarasota, Florida. Detectives Kimberly Laster and Maria Llovio, the lead investigators on the two cases, noted the similarities between the victims and the circumstances in which they were found. Examination of the victims’ cell phone data revealed their recent movements, and surveillance camera footage from the hours before each woman’s demise showed that both had been seen in the company of the same man near the same store shortly before their deaths. Detectives Laster and Llovio tracked one victim’s phone to an encampment where, two days after the second murder, they found the man with the clothing he had been seen wearing in the security video with the first victim. The suspect voluntarily gave a DNA sample, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement expedited the analysis, confirming within 24 hours that the suspect was connected with the first murder. Several months later that crime lab notified the detectives that DNA on the suspect’s clothing was a match for the second victim as well. Detectives Laster and Llovio’s comprehensive investigation and their commitment to the pursuit of justice led to this dangerous suspect’s arrest. The suspect died of a seizure three months after his arrest.

Detective Erik Whitlock, North Richland Hills Police Department (Texas)

In 2013, Detective Eric Whitlock was assigned to the 10-year-old case of the nonfatal shooting of North Richland Hills Police Department (NRHPD) Officer Jeff Garner in the line of duty while attempting to conduct a traffic stop. Whitlock knew that the driver in the traffic stop had just robbed a bank in a nearby city; he identified six similar bank robberies in the previous five years and suspected thatif he could solve any of these, he could identify the driver who had shot Officer Garner on his motorcycle in 2003. The unsolved cases of all seven bank robberies included DNA evidence that yielded no actionable results; but by 2021, forensic analysis technology had advanced sufficiently to provide a promising lead. Detective Whitlock coordinated with federal and local agencies and carefully investigated and accumulated evidence leading to search warrants for the suspect’s home and vehicle as well as a previously owned vehicle. Execution of those war- rants showed that the previously owned vehicle was the same SUV he had been driving in the 2003 traffic stop and that his gun was the one that had been used to shoot Officer Garner. The suspect died by suicide rather than face arrest.

Detective Whitlock’s determination and his use of traditional as well as innovative investigative techniques brought resolution to the victims of seven bank robberies going back 25 years, as well as to Officer Garner, who continues to serve at the NRHPD—now as an Assistant Chief.

Detective Ezekiel Sisneros, Monte Vista Police Department (Colorado)

For eight months beginning in September 2020, Detective Ezekiel Sisneros worked with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to pursue federal criminal charges against a well-established local drug dealer connected to a case in which a transaction had gone bad and led to an exchange of gunfire. The warrants arising from Sisneros’s investigation led to the seizure of more than a pound of methamphetamine and other drugs, four firearms, and four arrests. The U.S. Attorney’s Office successfully prosecuted the dealer and secured a 16-year prison sentence. Detective Sisneros regularly works with and assists federal agencies with a multitude of cases in Monte Vista and the San Luis Valley, investigating drug activity that routinely leads to search and arrest warrants. His dedication to eradicating these harmful substances and the guns used by those who traffic in them is making a measurable difference in the safety of his community.

Field Operations

Officer Pedram Farhang, Oakland Police Department (California)

Officer Pedram Farhang recognized the limitations patrol officers face in becoming familiar with and retaining information about suspects and vehicles wanted for violent crimes, because of their workload and the volume of emails they receive daily. That led him to begin distributing a weekly department-wide document containing photos of suspect vehicles and brief descriptions of the past month’s crimes, condensing 50 emails into one quick-reading digest and allowing his colleagues to use their time more efficiently. In early 2022, his efforts paid off: Farhang recognized that two murders in different nearby cities were similar and that vehicles linked to both were involved in auto burglaries throughout Oakland. His innovative approach to collecting and disseminating critical law enforcement information made his colleagues aware of these connections and led to the apprehension of two suspects and the recovery of the primary suspect vehicle. In the past year, through similar creative efforts in the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, Officer Farhang has assisted in generating leads and identifying suspects or suspect vehicles in more than 50 violent crimes across the San Francisco Bay Area. In a single overtime shift, he located a vehicle stolen in a carjacking at gunpoint, apprehended a gang member linked to several recent crimes, and located a vehicle used in a series of armed robberies—resulting in three arrests and the recovery of three “ghost” handguns. Farhang has also prepared a training curriculum for new officers in areas related to proactive and constitutional policing. His comprehensive knowledge of details regarding suspects and vehicles wanted in connection with violent crimes and his efforts to make that knowledge available to his colleagues have substantially improved public safety in his community.

Deputy Tanya Garcia and Deputy Esteban Hernandez, Harris County Sheriff’s Office (Texas)

Deputy Tanya Garcia—a patrol field training deputy—and her trainee were dispatched to a situation where a police officer and military veteran was armed, intoxicated, and suicidal. He became agitated when Garcia tried to speak to him. She called for additional resources and assigned them individual roles, having a colleague take over communication with the subject so she could continue briefing deputies as they arrived. One of those subsequent arrivals was Crisis Intervention Response Team (CIRT) Deputy Esteban Hernandez, who immediately began to assist in the de-escalation. Deputies had successfully taken one gun from the belligerent subject, but Hernandez learned he had another and was eventually able to confiscate that weapon as well. Once the subject was disarmed, Hernandez transported him to the Veterans Affairs hospital. This attempted “suicide by cop” was a challenging case for Deputies Garcia and Hernandez. The fact that the subject was a veteran and an experienced police officer added to the difficulty. They remained aware of their responsibility for the safety of the subject, his distraught family members, and other deputies on the scene—including trainees—and took great care to handle the call with empathy and compassion.

Patrolman First Class Demetrius Amos and Patrolman First Class Mackenzie Handel, Pocatello Police Department (Idaho)

In May 2022, Officers Demetrius Amos and Mackenzie Handel and their trainees (new hires on just their third day with the Pocatello Police Department) responded to a domestic disturbance in which a man was threatening a woman and a child with a gun. When the officers and trainees arrived, the subject turned his rifle on them. Officer Amos fired twice, and the subject fled to an alley, took cover, and lay in wait to ambush them when they followed. When they did, he fired multiple rounds—gravely injuring Amos and then injuring Officer Handel, who had placed himself in the line of fire to protect his trainees. Handel was able to direct additional responding officers to the subject, who surrendered, and to guide a new hire in providing emergency medical care for Amos and himself. The subject was transported to a local hospital by ambulance; Amos and Handel were evacuated in patrol vehicles. Officer Handel’s selflessness and quick thinking resulted in his own injury but likely saved the lives of officers around him, including Officer Amos. Amos’s encouraging messages to his department through his period of recovery unquestionably improved morale among colleagues who had been affected by the incident. When they initially arrived at the hospital, both Amos and Handel had walked into the emergency room with support from their colleagues; when they were released, they both insisted on walking out.

Officer Sheena Shelton, Forest Park Police Department (Georgia)

In July 2022, Officer Sheena Shelton took control of a response to a call for service in which a woman was threatening her husband with a rifle. The subject was irate and suicidal, arguing with officers and not allowing anyone to approach her home. Shelton maintained phone contact for several hours and persuaded her to cooperate, surrender her weapon, and submit to police custody, but she was frightened by the heavy police presence and retreated, rearmed, and retrenched. Shelton continued to assure the subject that officers would not harm her and again convinced her to turn over her weapon, come outdoors, and surrender peacefully. She was finally taken into custody without incident. The lives of the armed subject, her husband, other responding officers, and other community members the subject might have harmed in her agitated state were saved by Officer Shelton’s cool head and calm demeanor in a tense, high pressure crisis situation.

Officer Marc Navarro, Los Alamitos Police Department (California)

Officer Marc Navarro embraces the concepts of community- oriented policing in every aspect of his work—before, during, and after events calling for police presence. He has successfully persuaded the city to increase funding for protective gear to allow the police to provide an enhanced response to critical incidents. At a traffic stop, he gave an elderly driver a written warning expressing concern about her future safety rather than a formal citation; she later wrote a letter to a local magazine, which followed up with an article about Navarro and his community policing techniques. During another traffic incident, in which a driver’s medical emergency caused a collision, Navarro climbed into the car and reclined the driver’s seat to perform CPR rather than lay him on the hot asphalt as would have been normal procedure. His door-to-door efforts to locate doorbell camera or surveillance foot- age of an attempted carjacking impressed the victim enough to send the department a message of gratitude. Navarro’s thorough attention to the well-being of his colleagues and his town’s residents both show his commitment to community-oriented policing and public safety.

Innovations in Community Policing

Officer Grace Albritton, St. Petersburg Police Department (Florida)

Officer Grace Albritton knows that self-esteem and having basic resources are critical to a student’s success. So when she returned to her own high school as a school resource officer (SRO), she created a resource for students who lacked school supplies, hygiene items, and adequate clothing and shoes. “Grace’s Closet,” operating in partnership with other community organizations and school alumni, occupies a full classroom and runs like a shop with flexible hours. Students can get items they need without stigma—especially crucial for young people who are unhoused, of whom Pinellas County has approximately 4,000, and who are much more likely than their housing-secure peers to withdraw from school and to fall into a cycle of violence, crime, and drug use. Officer Albritton also mentors and advises a half-dozen student clubs and organizations in her role as an SRO. She was named the Pinellas County School Board’s School Resource Officer of the Year in 2021–22 and clearly demonstrates her commitment to a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community.

Officer Jimmy Pittmann II, Oakland Police Department (California)

Officer Jimmy Pittman operates the OK Program of Oakland, a collaborative mentoring and leadership development pro- gram for Black male teenagers that focuses on developing critical thinking skills and promoting academic excellence. He is known for the high standards he sets for himself as a police officer and a Black male leader in the community, and he works collaboratively with the program participants to reach their full potential as future leaders and role models. The middle and high school program rewards academic performance and good citizen- ship, facilitates a weekly study hall, and even provides food to families as needed. Pittman and his colleagues also offer workshops and practical skill-building services to the young participants on diverse topics including financial literacy, decision-making, self-awareness, anger management, violence prevention, social conduct, interacting with the police, and community service. Officer Pittman is a trusted figure in the Oakland community, where he often mediates conflicts before they escalate to issues requiring serious police involvement. His exemplary commitment to strengthening relation- ships between law enforcement and the young men in the OK Program make Pittman a true asset to the community.

Officer Yessenia Diaz, Miramar Police Department (Florida)

Officer Yessenia Diaz’s creative solutions to long-standing problems facing senior citizens have had an important impact on the community. She frequently meets with com- munity groups of diverse backgrounds and finds new ways to work together with residents and develop engaging crime prevention programs. Her Safety Bingo presentation engages older adults in the Miramar Police Department’s S.A.L.T. (Seniors And Law Enforcement Together) group to learn important safety lessons in an interactive way, using bingo cards with public safety tips—things like, “The IRS will never just show up at your house!” and “UPS drivers always wear black shoes!” She also organized a fashion safety show with a red-carpet runway featuring police, city officials, uniformed delivery services, and others to teach older adults how to distinguish legitimate uniforms from fraudulent ones and how to verify the identity of someone who knocks on their door.

Officer Diaz’s dedication to helping older adults in her area stay aware of and avoid predatory scams is a genuine asset to the community.

Officer Henni Hamby, Tallahassee Police Department (Florida)

Officer Henni Hamby has found creative ways to connect with the community she serves, even when the COVID-19 pandemic brought many community activities to a stand- still. She held virtual meetings with neighborhoods and community organizations when they couldn’t meet in person, and she proactively developed other new ways to interact with the community. The Community Relations Unit partnered with a local business to bring a mobile trailer to neighborhoods to deliver snow cones to community members and their children, enabling Hamby and her unit to make safe contacts with youth and adults and foster positive connections with the community. Officer Hamby is devoted to public safety for people of all ages. She operates programs including a personal safety and empowerment program for elementary school children, as well as a car seat check program for parents. Hamby is also an advocate of senior programs, because she recognizes that older adults are more vulnerable than most when it comes to theft, abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and other crimes. Hamby is the department’s Citizen Police Academy (CPA) coordinator and has developed an outstanding partnership with the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) organization. She works tirelessly to serve her community.

Officer Michael Peale, Broken Arrow Police Department (Oklahoma)

Many Spanish speakers in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, do not speak English and are distrustful of the police. Officer Michael Peale, the Public Affairs Officer, does not speak Spanish himself but knew his department needed to reach out to everyone in the community it serves. To address this service gap, in 2019 he developed a curriculum for a Spanish language Citizens’ Police Academy. Many of the program’s first students were religious leaders, local business owners, and civic leaders, further amplifying the department’s reach to the Spanish-speaking community. Since the start of the Citizens’ Police Academy in Spanish, reporting of minor crimes has increased and the incidence of violent crimes has decreased in Broken Arrow’s Spanish-speaking communities. Officer Peale has heard from residents crediting the relationships the department has built with the Spanish-speaking community and from fellow officers agreeing that they’ve seen more Spanish speakers coming forward as witnesses. Peale’s program is now influencing surrounding areas as police departments in other states have asked for information on the program’s design and coordination. Peale not only makes sure everyone in his local community has access to police department services but also shares his experience and resources with other states who help to start similar programs.

Patrol Officer Heather M. McClelland, Groton Police Department (Connecticut)

Officer Heather McClelland is a believer in creative police work. She initiated a police therapy dog program, where a police officer partners with a therapy dog to assist members of the public. She and her therapy dog, Chase, provide support to community members and fellow officers as well as jurisdictions outside of Connecticut that have asked for her help. Since its inception in August 2019, the program has paid major dividends to the community, law enforcement, and other first responders, as well as other jurisdictions.

Officer McClelland organizes and runs in the Groton portion of the Special Olympics Torch Run. She has also organized and helped with other community events such as the Safe Futures Toy Drive, a United Way Food Distribution Drive, the Special Olympics “Penguin Plunge,” a drug take- back day, and meet-and-greet events at area businesses, along with Chase. McClelland also organized the Cops and Comfort Dogs Symposium in Groton, which brought law enforcement and their numerous comfort dogs together from other states to learn more about the program and discover ways to take it to their own communities.

Criminal Investigations Category

Sergeant Kurt Berardino and Sergeant Christopher Perez, Miami-Dade (FL) Police Department

In July 2020, a ShotSpotter alert showed that 21 shots had been fired on a Miami street. The aftermath left a seven-year-old dead and another child and two adults injured. Detectives Kurt Berardino and Christopher Perez (now both sergeants) immersed themselves in the subsequent investigation, poring over multiple Crime Stoppers tips, reviewing hours of surveillance footage, and questioning potential witnesses. As Berardino and Perez developed the case, they established a rapport with two of the survivors, and those survivors provided a positive identification of the subjects involved in the shooting. This positive identification was key in furthering other leads that were gathered. Evidence collected was crucial in solidifying victim statements and the timeline of the events. Arrest warrants were eventually issued, and in September 2020 the detectives traveled to Georgia, where one suspect was taken into custody and later confessed; a second suspect was also arrested. It was the tenacity, persistence, and determination of Detectives Berardino and Perez that closed this case and brought justice to the families of the victims and to the community.

Detective Victor Powell* and Detective Jonathan Smith, Norfolk (VA) Police Department

In September 1980, a woman was found dead in her Norfolk apartment, a victim of a brutal murder. Despite an investigation at the time, no solid leads into the case were developed until cold case Detectives Victor Powell and Jonathan Smith took on the case 38 years later and pursued a DNA analysis. The results showed a potential suspect in Michigan. Powell and Smith conducted numerous witness interviews, then obtained a warrant and arrested the suspect. The suspect was extradited to Norfolk and eventually confessed to the 1980 murder. He also admitted to previously unresolved, uncharged sexual assaults between 1976 and 1977 in San Diego, California. In the summer of 2020, the defendant pled guilty to first-degree murder, rape, and burglary arising from the brutal attack on the victim in 1980 and was sentenced to a life term of imprisonment on both the first-degree murder and the rape convictions and a term of 20 years in prison on the burglary conviction. Also, as a result of the resolution of the case in Norfolk, the state of Michigan was able to return the defendant to the state to stand trial for pending charges related to the 1989 death of his adopted daughter. Smith and Powell’s dedication to this investigation brought great credit to the Norfolk Police Department from across the United States and brought peace to a family who fought for justice for 40 years.

*Detective Powell, a 31-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department, passed away May 21, 2020; he is remembered for his outstanding service to the department.

Detective Ben Pender, Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake (UT)

In November 2010, a woman was found brutally murdered in her South Salt Lake, Utah bookstore. The scene was processed and fingerprints, a palm print, and DNA were recovered, which later provided a profile of an unknown male suspect. In 2018, cold case Detective Ben Pender worked with a genetic genealogist and was eventually given more than 300 names for target testing. Pender researched their names and addresses, ultimately traveled to eight states, and fostered relationships with 50 target test subjects, who provided swabs for DNA testing. In the fall of 2020, Pender was provided a close genetic match with the DNA left at the crime scene and eventually identified the name of a suspect. Pender worked with detectives from the Major Investigations Unit (MIU) to conduct surveillance on the suspect and collect a DNA sample, which turned out to be a match. Pender arrested the suspect, who admitted to the murder and provided critical details. If not for Pender’s tenacious efforts, this homicide might never have been solved and a grieving family might still not have found justice. Pender has closed several unresolved homicides and missing persons cases and worked homicides for other agencies. In addition, in 2018 he organized the first annual Hope Conference for families of unresolved homicide victims, during which participants learned that every open unresolved case would be examined no less often than every 18 months.

Detective-Sergeant Jeffrey Araujo and Major Christopher Reed, Central Falls (RI) Police Department

In July 2007, a cab driver was shot in his cab and died by the time he was transported to the hospital. Witnesses reported seeing three young men run from the scene, some tossing their baseball caps as they ran. When processing the scene, Detective (now Detective-Sergeant) Jeffrey Araujo and Detective (now Major) Christopher Reed discovered two baseball caps in the vicinity of the shooting. The detectives later spoke with the victim’s wife, who said she was on the phone with her husband just before the shooting. She said her husband had called to say he was not comfortable with the three men in his taxi and wanted to keep her on the phone in case something went wrong. Shortly after, his wife heard a struggle and the phone disconnected.

Detectives Araujo and Reed were later contacted by a confidential informant, who identified a man he said had shot the driver; they also received information about the other two men in the car. Through their diligent efforts over the years, in May 2017 the detectives spoke with a subject who wanted to provide information on the case. At the same time, the detectives spoke with another individual who reported the suspects had talked about the murder the day after it happened. Araujo and Reed then resubmitted both baseball hats and requested they be tested against the profiles of the three suspects. There was a match, and with this and other evidence, the detectives secured an indictment. After a trial, the suspect was convicted and sentenced. Because of the detectives’ tenacious work, the victim’s children and family were able to see that justice was finally served.

Field Operations Category

Deputy Sarah Merriman, Richland County (SC) Sheriff’s Department

When Deputy Sarah Merriman was dispatched to a call for a domestic dispute in progress, she was told in advance that the suspect had a firearm and had already assaulted a woman. Upon her arrival, she saw a very agitated man with a shotgun in his hand, and one of several women on the scene was bleeding profusely from her head. Merriman had to decide instantly whether to draw her weapon; recognizing the subject’s state of mind, she chose to talk to him. She pleaded with him to drop the weapon—and once additional patrol deputies arrived and aimed their guns at him, she encouraged him to focus on talking to her. The suspect taunted Merriman for several minutes, yelling at her to pull her weapon and shoot him. Finally, Merriman was able to calm him down and he lowered the shotgun; she then took him into custody. Deputy Merriman’s actions exemplify what it is to be a guardian. Her ability to recognize the individual’s state of mind—and her realization that drawing her weapon would escalate the situation—prevented a tragic outcome and saved at least one life that day.

Officer Kristen Schmidt, Portland (OR) Police Bureau

Officer Kristen Schmidt, part of the Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team at the Portland Police Bureau, responded to a call from the local Humane Society, where a woman trying to recover her cats from the shelter had become belligerent. Schmidt did not know at the time that the woman was in the midst of an extended period of psychosis; the sudden appearance of several uniformed officers, an ambulance, and staff from a community health agency exacerbated her condition.

In an effort to calm the situation, Officer Schmidt sat with the woman and patiently explained the need to go to the hospital. When the ambulance driver told the woman to get on the gurney and her agitation returned, Schmidt then drove the woman to the hospital herself. She talked to her during the drive; the woman reported, “She treated me with dignity and respect and looked for ways to connect with me.”

Officer Schmidt kept in touch with the woman during her three-week hospitalization, picked her up when she was released, and drove her to the shelter to retrieve her dog, who had also been left there. The woman said she felt treated with “compassion and humanity.” A year after the incident, the woman met Schmidt at the precinct to express her gratitude and share how differently she felt that day could have gone if Schmidt had not been the officer on the scene. She believes that Schmidt is a powerful role model for sensitive and compassionate police work for people in vulnerable situations.

Officer Travis Allen and Officer Brendan Fowler, Irving (TX) Police Department

In the winter of 2021, officers responded to a call of a drowning in progress. A family had ventured out onto an ice-covered canal to take photos, but the father and mother had fallen through the ice into the frigid waters. When Officer Brendan Fowler arrived on the scene, he threw a lifeline to both, telling them to wrap it around themselves to remain above water. Officer Travis Allen arrived next and communicated with Fowler to develop a rescue plan. The fire department arrived and slid two ladders out onto the ice, but the woman was succumbing to the cold and began to go under. Allen immediately crawled out on the ladder and held the woman’s face above the water. A firefighter crawled out on the other ladder just as the ice broke under Allen, dumping him into the water. Allen and the firefighter, now exposed to the extremely cold water, worked quickly and managed to lift the woman onto a ladder. Other officers who were now on the scene made sure that everyone was attached to the ladder and pulled the ladder onto the shore. The husband was responsive, but the wife was unresponsive and showed signs of hypothermia onset. They were then transported to the hospital, where both recovered. If it were not for the quick response and heroic actions taken by Allen and Fowler, the outcome could have been very different.

Officer Cody Hubbard, Pottsville (AR) Police Department

In May 2021, Officer Cody Hubbard responded to a call of a cardiac arrest of a three-week-old child who was not breathing. Immediately upon his arrival, Hubbard began life-saving efforts and started the Heimlich maneuver for infants. The baby soon began to cry and breathe on his own. The Pope County emergency medical services team then arrived and took over the scene. Hubbard was awarded the department’s Life Saving Award for his actions. Under a very stressful situation, he was able to retain, recall, and apply the lifesaving training he had received. Officer Hubbard saved a young life and earned the respect of the community.

Innovations in Community Policing Category

Detective Latosha Prather, Detective Khary Ricketts, and Detective Dan-nae Webber, DeKalb County (GA) Police Department

Detective Latosha Prather, Detective Khary Ricketts, and Detective Dan-nae Webber’s work for the Police Athletic League (PAL) has taken their outreach efforts to new heights and helped many children stay connected in the process. This was especially true during the summer of 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic threatened to leave at-risk youth with no summer programs. The detectives implemented a Virtual Summer Academy that connected participants via Zoom, Instagram, and Facebook, focusing on mentorship, education, and athletics. Community leaders, teachers and coaches, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other nonprofits partnered with the PAL to make this innovative event happen. The program reached a total of 1,018 children and adults. When the summer ended, the unit launched its Back to School Backpack Giveaway, providing supplies to students who otherwise would have had trouble getting them. Next was the second annual virtual Gaming with a Cop event, to keep students busy while they were out of school for the President’s Day holiday. The event allowed kids to bond with DeKalb County police officers while competing against them in live video games.

When officers began noticing children on the ramps of the interstates selling bottled water, they knew this was both a safety hazard and a potential breeding ground for other crimes. The detectives of the DeKalb County PAL once again put their heads together and implemented a Career Development Program—a four-month life skills program to provide students with personal growth opportunities and to prepare them for future careers. PAL partnered with Georgia Piedmont Technical College, local entrepreneurs, youth mentors, volunteers, and other police department support units. After the first session, eight of the nine participants were helped through the interview process and are now employed, with the remaining participant enrolling in the Georgia Piedmont College dual enrollment program.

Deputy Sheriff Joseph Angelico, Martin County (FL) Sheriff’s Office

Since joining the Community Oriented Policing Unit in 2005, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Angelico has established excellent relationships with the community and earned the trust of community members, who often provide him with critical information. A recent example occurred in May 2021, when a local restaurant fire was declared a case of arson. Within days, Angelico had identified the suspect.

Deputy Sheriff Angelico views problems as challenges, and his goal is looking for solutions. For example, Angelico sought a proactive solution to the problem of crime in the summer, when the beach community is flooded with tourists. He coordinated countless hours of all-terrain vehicle beach patrols and bicycle parking lot patrols, giving out Criminal Opportunity Reports to visitors to educate them and enlist them in crime prevention efforts.

Deputy Sheriff Angelico has also established a strong working relationship with the local Department of Human Services to work on helping the homeless population. One homeless Navy veteran, who consistently refused services and shelter, now has both housing and a new outlook on life because of Angelico’s compassion and tireless work.

Deputy Sheriff Angelico especially made his skills work for the community during the pandemic, when he spearheaded many small operations. He used a substation facility at the local mall to meet with community members, answering their questions and giving them information. He was also actively involved in assisting with numerous protests during the summer of 2020, allowing protesters to voice their concerns while also preventing violence. His professionalism and dedication are unparalleled, and his knowledge and experience in community policing have established him as a leader and mentor to others in the office.

Officer Tom Hart, Walpole (MA) Police Department

Officer Tom Hart’s community policing efforts have gone a long way toward building relationships between law enforcement and the community in Walpole, and his efforts have had an impact well beyond the city limits. Hart joined the department in 2013 after a career as a special education teacher. He quickly became involved in many community policing initiatives involving Walpole’s youth. He initially served as a mentor to Walpole schools, with a focus on positive interactions with children who suffer from developmental disabilities. Hart’s efforts include a “positive ticket” campaign to reward “kids caught doing right”; a basketball-cop program, where officers play sports with area youth; and a ride to school program, where each month a student is given a full police escort from his or her home to school. Hart also serves as a leader in the Student Police Advisory Council, and he leads a community-based crisis intervention team that assists with finding resources for those with mental illness.

Officer Hart’s efforts to bridge the gap between Walpole’s youth and the police department resulted in him being named a school resource officer in 2017. He hit the ground running and established the Walpole Junior Police Academy, where middle school students spend a week learning about discipline, physical fitness, and police functions. He also took students with learning disabilities on a field trip to visit an organization called Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI), which trains service dogs for a variety of needs.

The visit was so well received  that Officer Hart began discussing the idea of police using service dogs as an ice breaker, as well as to assist individuals when responding to traumatic incidents. Hart received approval from town officials, and GOFI donated a golden retriever named “Rebel” to the police. The program has proved such a success that a number of other departments in the state now have a service dog assigned to them, and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office announced that they would be funding a grant to purchase service dogs for other jurisdictions. Other states have also expressed an interest in replicating the program. Hart’s innovative ideas have proved invaluable in furthering the department’s community policing efforts (and Rebel, the service dog, has now become the face of the Walpole Police Department).

Officer Danielle St. Peter, Barnstable (MA) Police Department

Officer Danielle St. Peter’s commitment to the Barnstable Police Community Impact Unit (CIU) has had a tremendous impact on the community of Barnstable. The CIU works with partner agencies to bring medical care, substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, and housing services to homeless and disadvantaged populations. St. Peter routinely assumes the role of case manager, counselor, and problem solver by using an individualized approach to de-escalate tense situations and connect people with services tailored to their needs.

In the fall of 2020, the CIU received information about a mother with mental illness living with her baby in a homeless camp. Officer St. Peter forged a relationship with the young mother, building trust with her over a period of time, and removing the fear of criminal enforcement. She connected her with the appropriate services and eventually was able to move the mother and child into more suitable housing, watching as their quality of life improved dramatically.

Recently, Officer St. Peter skillfully managed a tense situation, as police officers tried to persuade a mentally ill woman who was living in her car to leave her vehicle for a psychiatric committal. Using compassion and skills honed over time, St. Peter provided comfort to the scared woman and deescalated the situation. She ultimately oversaw her transfer to a care facility and reconnected with her after treatment, helping her to secure temporary housing and get the mental health treatment she needed. Because of St. Peter’s compassion, care, and philosophy of community policing, the woman remains stabilized and they communicate regularly. St. Peter’s upbeat attitude, conflict resolution skills, patience, and work ethic are all part of her extreme effectiveness and a true demonstration of community policing.

Officer Tamrah Stepien, East Windsor (CT) Police Department

Since joining the department in 2011, Officer Tamrah Stepien has excelled at her many efforts to build relationships with the community, beginning with her role as a school resource officer. She became certified in crisis intervention training and has demonstrated skill and leadership in that role. Stepien also serves on the Multi-Jurisdictional Team Task Force, where she has demonstrated her compassion and professionalism in rape crisis work and domestic violence intervention. When Stepien approached her chief about pursuing a master’s degree in social work, he knew what a valuable asset that would be for the department. On her own time, Stepien pursued the degree and graduated with honors, also completing 900 clinical hours and other requirements to become a master’s level social worker in the state of Connecticut.

In the wake of the tragic murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Connecticut adopted a comprehensive police accountability law, one component of which requires each law enforcement agency to design a means of integrating social workers into policing. Because of Officer Stepien, the East Windsor Police Department is in the unique position of integrating a police officer into social work. Now, the department is establishing a new mental health team that will be housed in the department and will be responsible for early intervention in mental health calls. Stepien will lead this new unit, which will integrate the town’s Youth Services Bureau and work closely with the department’s school resource officer and with social workers from the school district. The unit will also provide enhanced peer support in the police department to proactively address mental health concerns among officers. Stepien’s compassion for her community, her training, and her experience are helping make East Windsor’s mental health unit a model for the state of Connecticut.

Ceremony program

Innovations in Community Policing Category

Officer James Bryant, Detective Traves Humpherys, Officer Darling Mapes, Officer Strahinja Pavlovic, Detective David Shive, and Officer Luis Vidal of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada

The Bolden community had always been a challenge for police officers and it was very difficult to build trust with residents. Youth in the community also struggled, and the numbers showed poor academic records and low graduation rates. So when an area merchant wanted to create a free, fully accredited baseball league for youth, police officers jumped in to assist as coaches for the Bolden Little League (BLL). Just two years after it started, and as relationships between police officers and the children and their families strengthened, the league expanded to 14 teams and 186 children. The league focused on reducing violent crime by building trust and positively affecting the children and families involved; and the success was in the numbers, with the neighborhoods surrounding the park posting a 76% reduction in violent crime from 2018 to 2019.

Officer Philip Smith of the Evansville Police Department, Indiana

Officer Philip Smith is the symbol of community policing in Evansville, Indiana, where he serves as the special projects coordinator for the Evansville Police Department. His community outreach efforts have put a human face on the badge, and his efforts have encouraged the public to work with the police and the police to have an ally in the public. Smith runs the Department’s Facebook page, which now has 45,000 subscribers – in a city of 117,000! His social media activity includes weekly videos celebrating different officers and community members, and photos of police and kids on department-sponsored trips to theme parks. He also helped create the department’s breast cancer awareness fundraiser, and established a program where salons and barbershops host officers for informal chats with their patrons. All this community outreach has meant that when the department now has to explain an officer involved shooting, or asks the public for help in recognizing a criminal, there is a community now pre-disposed to understand and work with the department more than ever before.

Officer Sally Landrum of the Willingboro Police Department, New Jersey

When the Willingboro Police Department named Officer Sally Landrum its inaugural Community Engagement Officer, she became the face of the department in her community. Her goal was to build trust and legitimacy by engaging residents of all backgrounds in positive interactions and she found a myriad of ways to do that. Officer Landrum dove into her new role with gusto, quickly earning the respect of local religious leaders and community organizations. Her initiatives include recruitment events; story times where police read to children at the local library; anti-drug programs in the schools; toiletry drives for the homeless; training on how to spot telephone scams and mail fraud for older adults; breast and prostate cancer awareness campaigns; food, coat, and toy drives; a resiliency program for officers in distress; and a community service diversion program for young offenders. Through these efforts, community residents now know they have a friend in the Willingboro PD, and both the department and the community are better for it.

Detective Archie Lidey of the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety, Oregon

When Josephine County, Oregon, suffered a funding crisis, Detective Archie Lidey zoomed into action. The situation was dire, with staffing reduced at the sheriff’s office and the jail, limiting the number of offenders that could be housed. Citations were issued to most criminal offenders instead of placing them under arrest.  But Detective Lidey began a grassroots effort to find and maintain funding. As a founding member of Securing Our Safety (SOS), formed specifically to overcome the law enforcement–funding crisis, Detective Lidey organized a 5k race that grew to 700 participants in 2020. Lidey and SOS also raised over $60,000 to complete a study of local justice and law enforcement programs. They also formed a nonprofit called Grace Roots, to establish a residential treatment center for people with addictions; and he was key in establishing the Grants Pass Treatment Center, a methadone and suboxone treatment program for substance abuse addiction. Josephine County went from having no treatment facility to one that now sees more than 300 patients a day. And funding-wise, it has all paid off: since 2013, Detective has coordinated events and contributions that now total $324,000.

Criminal Investigations Category

Detective Kenneth Williams of the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, DC

Detective Kenneth Williams, with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, was determined to pursue a cold case file to bring a serial rapist and murderer to justice. For over twenty years, Detective Williams followed leads and pursued the case. His efforts ultimately led him to a town in South Carolina, where a suspect was taken into custody and extradited to Washington, DC.

Special Agent Ryan Kedley of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Iowa

Special Agent Ryan Kedley orchestrated and oversaw one of the largest sexual exploitation investigations in Iowa state history. Kedley’s team discovered that, for almost 20 years, a local youth basketball coach had been secretly amassing thousands of videos and photos of his players and their friends. Investigators determined the coach had sexually assaulted at least 15 young men and victimized another 400, though the actual numbers are suspected to be much higher. The former coach is now serving a 180-year sentence in prison – the longest sentence possible for the charges he faced.

Detective Bryan Bennett, Detective Ty Deichert, Detective Fred Longobricco, and Detective Ian Ranshaw of the Thornton Police Department, Colorado

These four Thornton (CO) detectives diligently pursued a high-level Walmart credit card scheme that eventually led the detectives to partner with the F.B.I., the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department. Senior citizens in particular were targeted by this confidence scheme, who unknowingly became the source of millions of dollars of fraudulently obtained funds – funds that were eventually laundered and sold as gift cards overseas. The detectives conducted numerous surveillance operations, covertly went through the suspects’ trash on multiple occasions, spent days reassembling shredded gift cards, and ultimately followed their leads to East Asia. So far, two defendants have now pleaded guilty, and 25 other defendants are being monitored.

Detective Ryan Flood of the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office , Officer Vance Henning, Jr. and Investigator Denny Vokes of the Fond du Lac Police Department, Wisconsin

These dedicated individuals sought to stem an increase in shootings, drug trafficking, illegal guns, and gang activity; and their work achieved just that, with illegal drugs, guns, and violent criminals removed from city streets and community trust revived. Forming a coalition that included agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, over 50 active, armed participants in the illegal drug trade were identified, many with criminal gang ties. The investigation also led to a major firearms straw purchasing scheme. Hundreds of hours of surveillance, interviews with numerous suspects and dozens of warrant executions have led to the arrest of 35 suspects, with many more arrests and indictments still pending. These cases also involved the disruption of networks distributing cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, including the largest single heroin seizure in the history of Fond du Lac.

Field Operations Category

Officer Sherrelle Mitchell and Officer Felix Rivera of the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania

Sometimes lost in the narrative of American policing are the lives that officers save. This particular drama unfolded on an August night in Philadelphia, when Officer Felix Rivera was monitoring a large party. When he heard multiple gunshots Officer Rivera first radioed for help, and then rushed toward the shots. Officer Sherrelle Mitchell quickly sped to the scene. The officers found a gunshot victim bleeding profusely. After applying a tourniquet, the officers placed the victim in their vehicle and rushed to the hospital. On the way, the victim lost consciousness several times, and Officer Mitchell continued to perform CPR and chest compressions. The heroic actions of these officers saved a life that night. 

Officer Natalie Eucce and Corporal Seay-Peter Floyd of the Fayetteville Police Department, Arkansas

In December 2019 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, an individual determined to assassinate law enforcement officers, and armed with 100 rounds of ammunition, approached a police car and fired 10 times, killing Officer Stephen Carr. Hearing the shots and seeing the suspect, Corporal Seay-Peter Floyd – with no regard for his personal safety – pursued the suspect and fired. Officer Natalie Eucce (Officer Carr’s partner) and Sergeant James Jennings joined Corporal Floyd in pursuing the suspect and fired as well. The suspect was pronounced dead on the scene. It is very likely more officers would have lost their lives that night, if it were not for the bravery of Corporal Floyd and Officer Eucce.

Sergeant Jason Thien of the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon

In Curry County, Oregon, Sergeant Jason Thien often works alone on his shift, where he services a 1,600-square mile county and more than eighty miles of the Pacific Coast Highway. Even so, he did not hesitate to give it his all when word came down of a widespread manhunt for a murder suspect, who was thought to be in Curry County. Working his contacts, combing property records, and using other investigative tools, he found his man. Thanks to Sergeant Thien’s dedicated efforts, he apprehended the subject, who will soon be facing charges.

Ceremony program

Innovations in Community Policing Category

Officers Phalon McFate of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada

In 2017, Officer Phalon McFate developed Project Daybreak, an initiative used to address violent crime-hot spots in downtown Las Vegas neighborhoods. Since it started, Project Daybreak has significantly contributed to decreasing violent crime – down by fifty percent in these neighborhoods.  Through positive police interactions, Officer McFate was able to create transparency and build trust in neighborhoods, where these previously did not exist. The success of Project Daybreak is a direct result of Officer McFate’s passion and commitment to her community.

Officer Jesse Guardiola of the Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma

Officer Jesse Guardiola is recognized for the Hispanic outreach program he has developed, which provides Survival Spanish Language training, and educates law enforcement and the community on the immigrant Hispanic culture. The program has received national recognition and is being promoted as a national model for Hispanic community outreach. Through his efforts, Officer Guardiola is building bridges and making a difference in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Detective Anthony Roberson of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island

Detective Anthony Roberson is recognized for his use of community policing initiatives that build partnerships between law enforcement and local businesses to support underserved families.  The “Shop with a Cop” program has now served 300 children.  The “Handshake Initiative” has grown from 40 to 200 mentors, and is benefiting families of all backgrounds, across the city. Through these programs, Detective Roberson is giving back to his community, increasing partnerships and building bridges between law enforcement, families and businesses. 

Officer Jonathan Plunkett of the Irving Police Department, Texas

In August 2016, after the murder of five police officers in Dallas, Officer Jonathan Plunkett began working on an outreach initiative to bridge the gap between the African-American community and law enforcement. The idea was to connect with the community in places where residents would feel comfortable, and be open to sharing their concerns and engaging in dialogue. Officer Plunkett knew that barbershops would work. The initiative, which began with one shop, has now increased to 16 shops, and is known as ShopTalk. Through ShopTalk, Officer Plunkett has created a way to build mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and community members who had not been reached with traditional police outreach efforts.

Detective Kathleen Lucero of the Isleta Tribal Police Department, New Mexico

Isleta Tribal Police Department Detective Kathleen Lucero is recognized for community policing initiatives that provide resources to impoverished youth, and build connections between law enforcement and the community.  Through the annual Reaching for A Star initiative, Detective Lucero provides gifts and food to more than 150 children and their families during the holiday season.  Through her Camp Courage program, 60 children participate in a youth camp every summer. Detective Lucero’s on and off-duty dedication cannot be overstated and has made a true impact on the community. 

Officer Troy Quick of the Conyers Police Department, Georgia

Officer Troy Quick is making a lasting impact on the youth within his community. As a School Resource Officer at Rockdale County High School, Officer Quick has been able to help a number of students leave gang life. Whether it is though the mentoring sessions he coordinates for students, donating items to families in need, or just taking an interest in student’s daily lives, Officer Quick is a true example of dedication and service.

Criminal Investigations Category

Detective William Maldonado of the Suffolk County Police Department, New York

Detective William Maldonado was assigned to assist in the investigation of the disappearance of a young man. Intelligence gathered by Detective Maldonado indicated the missing boy was a murder victim of MS-13. Without the detective’s work, along with his team, the murder spree would no doubt have continued. Instead, several dozen people were arrested, charged with seventeen murders, the Suffolk County MS-13 Sailor Clique was eliminated, and several other cliques were disrupted. Detective Maldonado accomplished this while battling cancer, and rarely missed work. He succumbed to his illness in 2018, but not before arrests were made in the cases.

Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards of the Providence Police Department, Rhode Island

Providence Detectives George Duarte and Jeffrey Richards are recognized for their extraordinary investigative work in solving an abduction and sexual assault case of a fourteen-year-old girl. Their investigation not only solved that case, but also led to solving several other cases of sexual assault by the same suspect. Because of their work, the detectives were able to have this vicious predator removed from the community, victims of other unreported crimes were helped, and justice was brought to a number of other victims.

Detectives Sandra Marquez and Kenneth Sealy of the Aventura Police Department, Florida

Aventura Detectives Sandra Marquez and Kenneth Sealy are recognized for their investigative work in solving several high-dollar fraud schemes. During an intense investigation involving a large credit card fraud ring operating in south Florida, the detectives identified approximately $194,000 in fraudulent transactions and seized another $218,000.  Another case involved money laundering, which included a loss of almost $4 million over three years. The detectives are continuing this important work in coordination with several federal agencies.

Field Operations Category

Officers Evan Jurgensen, Nicholas Kelly, Rachel Mynier, and John Yenchak of the Prince William County Police Department, Virginia

In November 2018, the Prince William County Police Department received a call reporting an Active Shooter. Within minutes of responding to the scene, Officer Evan Jurgensen, Officer Nicholas Kelly, Officer Rachel Mynier and Officer John Yenchak had to take cover from gunfire. Officer Mynier noticed movement on the roof of a residence and transmitted a warning to incoming units, and in doing so saved lives. After the shooter ignored officers’ commands, he was eventually struck and fell to the ground. Although officers feared a possible second shooter, they exposed themselves to harm once again to extract the shooter for medical treatment, and also pulled an occupant from the residence to safety. The heroism demonstrated by each officer represents true courage.

Deputy Richard Hassna of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, California

Alameda County Deputy Richard Hassna is being recognized for his innovative use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems for public safety operations. In 2018, during the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, Deputy Hassna led more than 16 unmanned aerial vehicle teams, and conducted 517 flights in two days, taking more than 70,000 images. These images were stitched into a map that allowed residents to see the damage to their property, without being exposed to danger. This was likely the largest response of small unmanned aerial systems to a disaster scene in U.S. history. Deputy Hassna has also developed tactics and training for this technology that has redefined high-risk tactical operations and air support as we know it.

Deputy Ross Jessop of the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Montana

Deputy Ross Jessop is being recognized for his action and dedication to duty in saving the life of a kidnapped baby. In July 2018, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a man with a gun, who had fled in a vehicle with his girlfriend’s infant son. One hour later the suspect appeared back on the scene without the baby. The suspect said he had killed and buried the baby; but his irrational statements led investigators to search for the missing child.  During Deputy Jessop’s search in more than a million acres of forest, he heard a faint whimper, and found a baby boy lying face down. To his surprise, the baby was alive and uninjured. There is no question Deputy Jessop’s instincts, perseverance, and dedication saved the child’s life.

Officers Aaron Bates and Alexander Stotik of the Cohasset Police Department, Massachusetts

Cohasset Officers Aaron Bates and Alexander Stotik are being recognized for their courageous actions that saved the life of a woman who was being brutally attacked. The officers were dispatched to a home where neighbors complained of loud noises and a fight.  After investigating, the officers heard a muffled scream, kicked in a locked door, and saw what they described as an “attempted murder in progress.” After a heated struggle, the officers were able to subdue the suspect, place him under arrest, and get medical attention for the victim. The officers exhibited extraordinary valor, bravery, courage, and professionalism in the face of extreme danger that would no doubt have resulted in the murder of the victim.

Ceremony program

Innovations in Community Policing Category

Sergeant Sean Crotty of the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, New Jersey

Little Egg Harbor Sergeant Sean Croddy is the school resource officer at the local high school. While his main responsibility is the protection of the school community, he also takes on the greater role of getting involved with students, shaping the way they view law enforcement, and helping mold them into community members capable of achieving their full potential. Sergeant Croddy also developed numerous other community policing initiatives where the whole community has become a network of sharing, collaborating, and helping one another.

Detective John Rastetter of the Canton Police Department, Ohio

In 2016, Canton was in the midst of an opioid crisis, Canton Detective Michael Rastetter  became the point person for the newly created Stark Outreach Support team, a quick response team made up of a nurse, a social worker, and a vice detective. In 2017, the team engaged 70 overdose survivors and 33 family members, connected 30 individuals with rehabilitation services and provided 19 Naloxone kits; seeing a reduction of nearly 60 percent of opioid-related overdose deaths.

Officer Laurie Reyes of the Montgomery County Police Department, Maryland

Montgomery County Officer Laurie Reyes identified a problem: officers seemed to be searching for the same critically missing people repeatedly.  In response, she initiated the “Project Lifesaver” program as a new way to assist in tracking individuals who wander.  She also recognized that a prevention component was missing. As a result, Officer Reyes created a nationally recognized program to promote awareness and safety of these at-risk populations. Officer Reyes identified a problem and developed a creative solution, which had a significant impact on the public safety and public trust.

Criminal Investigations Category

Officer Megan Freer of the Middleton Township Police Department, Pennsylvania

In the summer of 2017, a 19-year old man went missing near Middletown Township. Officer Megan Freer began an intensive investigation into a missing person case, which eventually led to the discovery of a horrific quadruple homicide in a nearby town.  Officer Freer’s incredible investigative efforts led to the arrest of two 20-year-olds, who were ultimately charged with murder of the four victims – bringing closure to their families and the community of Middletown.

Detective Andrew Beuschel, Jr. of the Evesham Township Police Department, New Jersey  

In 2017, a father called the police when he found his 15-year old daughter unresponsive; an ambulance transported the victim to the hospital where she subsequently died from a heroin overdose two days later. Evesham Township Detective Andrew Beuschel investigated the case, and was able to locate the person suspected of selling the heroin. Detective Beuschel’s persistence led to arrest warrants for possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, and ultimately, strict liability of the suspect for the drug induced death of the victim.

Trooper Joel D. Follmer of the Pennsylvania State Police

In 2016, an assailant broke into a woman’s house, assaulting, kidnapping, and raping her prior to leaving her in a cornfield near her residence. Pennsylvania State Trooper Joel Follmer worked tirelessly on the case using innovative investigative techniques. Trooper Follmer’s diligent efforts spearheaded an investigation over 18 months long and led to the identification of a prison guard as a serial rapist with assaults dating back to 1994.

Field Operations Category

Sergeant Girard Tell III and Sergeant Ryan VanSyckle of the Pleasantville Police Department, New Jersey

Since 2016, Pleasantville Sergeants Girard Tell and Ryan VanSyckle have consistently led the department in arrests and drug seizures by their dogged persistence to find and dismantle street gangs.  A regional investigation netted more than 100 felony indictments against the South Side Mob street gang. Their tireless drive to remove the most dangerous and violent offenders has had a significant impact on the community, including a steady downward trend of gun violence and a 55 percent decrease in confirmed shooting calls for service.

Deputy Ned Nemeth of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Nevada

Washoe County Deputy Ned Nemeth has demonstrated active exceptional performance in field operations. As a full time K9 handler, he works highway interdiction, in which he has successfully reduced illegal operations in the past year along the I-80 corridor, including seizing large amounts of marijuana, methamphetamine, and prescription opioid pain pills. Deputy Nemeth pushes out quality information to his regional contacts, because of the belief that jurisdictional sharing will cur-tail organized drug trafficking.

Detective Thomas Curley of the Wilmington Police Department, Delaware

Over the past 14 years, Wilmington Detective Thomas Curley has provided outstanding efforts in conducting criminal investigations to protect the community from gangs and violent crime, including the first successful illegal gang prosecution in Delaware. He possesses the ability to seek out and successfully talk with witnesses to develop leads, and works tirelessly during complex investigations. Detective Curley is dedicated to his job and strives for justice for the victims of violent crimes.

Officers Jeremiah Beason, Patrick Burke, Monty Fetherston, and Steve Morris, Jr. of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada

In October 2017, a lone gunman fired into a crowd of 22,000 concertgoers attending a country music festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, killing 58 people and injuring over 850 more. Las Vegas Metropolitan Officers Jeremiah Beason, Patrick Burke, Monty Fetherston, and Steve Morris were the first four first responders to react. These officers rescued people, cleared the surrounding rooms near the shooter, and secured the perimeter; by running towards the danger, they saved countless lives.

Officers Jose Arriaga, Ruben Avalos, Carlos Escobar, Randy Jreisat, Arthur Meza, Ashley Mitchell, David Nick, Jr., Adrian Nunez, Christian Salas, and Solly Samara of the Los Angeles Police Department, California

In September 2017, the Department created the MacArthur Park Task Force to conduct uniformed patrols in and around MacArthur Park. Officers Jose Arriaga, Ruben Avalos, Carlos Escobar, Randy Jreisat, Arthur Meza, Ashley Mitchell, David Nick, Jr., Adrian Nunez, Christian Salas, and Solly Samara work on this task force focused on restoring order to the community around the park with constant law enforcement and community involvement to combat all crime and quality of life issues. Their work is directly responsible for a 40 percent reduction of Part 1 Crimes and a 46 percent reduction of Violent Crimes, as well as restoring the park into a beautiful haven within the community.

Innovations in Community Policing Category

Officers Andy Dobbins and Curt Vajgrt of the Urbandale Police Department, Iowa

Officers Dobbins and Vajgrt helped develop and implement an education program for their local high school focused on the social issues and pressures young people face. The Culture of Integrity program teaches the importance of character, integrity and community and focuses on issues related to bullying, social media, personal safety and achieving success. The officers managed all the details, getting approval of the curriculum and teaching schedule, organizing the content of the workbooks, and co-teaching the classes. The program was so successful that two other schools requested it.

Sergeant Audrey Mazzuca of the Gainesville Police Department, Florida

After a disproportionate number of minority youth were being arrested in the community, Sgt. Mazzuca worked with local stakeholders to develop programs that encourage officers and school administrators to replace student arrests with alternatives such as counseling, life skills training, and other services.  Through Sgt. Mazzuca’s leadership, the kids developed trusting relationships with law enforcement resulting in a 79 percent decline in on-campus arrests in 2015.

Community Liaison Officers Lawrence E. Geis and Scott B. Clinger of the Columbus Division of Police, Ohio

Community Liaison Officers Clinger and Geis have worked diligently to address residents’ and business owners’ concerns regarding a rash of criminal activity and their success has led to an examination of several problem hotels and businesses in Columbus.  The officers were instrumental in the adoption of a new city ordinance establishing safety rules for hotels and motels.  As a result, crime and calls for service at hotels and motels have decreased significantly.

Criminal Investigations Category

Detective Jessie Gonzales of the Tohono O’odham Police Department, Arizona

Assigned to crimes against children and sex crimes, Detective Gonzales is sometimes the only detective investigating these cases on the Tohono O’odham reservation, which covers three counties.  He consistently goes above and beyond the call of duty when conducting investigations.  He recently solved two rape cases, one involving a 10-year-old victim, and another involving a domestic violence stabbing case.  In these and all of his other cases, he consistently goes beyond the call of duty when conducting investigations to make the victims feel heard and believed.

Detectives Adam Beha and Joseph Milewczik of the Chesapeake Police Department, Virginia

Detectives Beha and Milewczik conducted a long-term investigation involving a heroin distribution organization that funneled large amounts of heroin to the streets of Hampton Roads.  Due to the organization’s affiliation with a high-level street gang, the case became an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation involving local and federal law enforcement partners.  Their work led to the arrest of all the federal targets, and the detectives continue to work the case, which will likely lead to more dangerous narcotics distributors being identified, investigated and arrested.

Senior Officer Kimberly Miller of the Houston Police Department, Texas

In April of 2015, a woman was beaten, sexually assaulted, and robbed. Senior Police Officer Kim Miller dissected the incident with skills gained in her 30 years of investigative work, leading to the arrest of three individuals suspected of involvement in the incident and additional assaults. Miller’s dedication led these cases to successful conclusions. Tireless in pursuit of the predators, she treated the victims with compassion and is a leader in her department. 

Field Operations Category

Detective Greg Felton of the Glenn County Sheriff's Office, California

Detective Felton works with multiple agencies to strengthen collaboration and integrate services while handling complex criminal investigations. During the past year, Detective Felton has been a driving force and team leader in the creation of the Glenn County System-wide Mental Health Assessment and Response Team, a collaborative multiagency team that responds to incidents such as school or community threats, suicidal behavior, and bullying. His ability to remain calm in any situation helps to quickly resolve a crisis situation. 

Officer Bennie L. Evans of the Alexandria Police Department, Virginia

Officer Evans embraces community policing during field operations and through voluntary participation in projects for the police department and local nonprofit organizations. A lead instructor in the department’s crisis intervention team, he provides officer training in suicide intervention, substance abuse, and other issues. He also serves as the department’s homeless outreach liaison. He works to help residents in need and has helped build trust in the communities he serves. Officer Evans has successfully de-escalated numerous violent and attempt suicide calls for service.

Officer JoAnn Walker of the San Francisco Police Department, California

Officer JoAnn Walker has volunteered for extensive training on hostage negotiation, crisis counseling, and suicide prevention, dedicating her own time and resources to advance her expertise and educate her colleagues in crisis service support. Thanks to her initiative and advocacy, crisis counselors are better equipped to respond to people in need, and the relationship between law enforcement and the local community has improved.