Justice Department Honors Rank-And-File Law Enforcement Officers And Deputies In Third Annual Attorney General’s Award For Distinguished Service In Policing

SAN FRANCISCO – Attorney General William P. Barr and Justice Department leadership today announced the recipients of the Third Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.

Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputy Richard Hassna was among those law enforcement officers recognized at the ceremony.  Deputy Hassna received the award for his innovative use of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) for public safety operations around the United States. Deputy Hassna has personally assisted hundreds of public safety agencies around the nation with establishing their own sUAS programs to provide close-air support to public safety agencies in dangerous situations. Deputy Hassna participated in the development of a general order, operations manual, and maintenance program, some of which are being used by agencies throughout the nation.  Further, in 2018, Deputy Hassna assisted in the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County, which left 85 people dead and became the most deadly wildland fire in California history. Through Deputy Hassna’s leadership, more than 16 unmanned aerial vehicle teams conducted 517 flights in two days and took more than 70,000 images, which were later stitched into a map that allowed residents to see the damage to their property without being exposed to danger. This response was likely the largest response of small unmanned aerial vehicles to a disaster scene in U.S. history.

“Honoring and supporting the work of law enforcement of¬ficers and deputies is a top priority for the Trump Administration, and today is an opportunity for me to personally express my gratitude and commitment to those who risk their lives daily to protect our communities,” said Attorney General Barr. “The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing honors exceptional police officers and the vital public service they provide. The brave men and women in law enforcement are engaged in an unrelenting and often unacknowledged fight to keep our communities safe each and every day. It is an honor to thank them for their service.”

President Donald J. Trump established clear directives for the Department of Justice – with three Executive Orders – demonstrating his strong support of the law enforcement community. These Executive Orders commit the Department to working in tandem with state and local law enforcement to restore the rule of law, reduce violent crime, dismantle criminal gangs, and combat the growing drug epidemic. Today the Department of Justice continues to support the President’s directive to honor law enforcement officers by announcing the third annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing.

The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 199 nominations for 414 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that troopers, officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues.