U.S. Attorney and Distinguished Guests Attend Inaugural Community Policing Awards Ceremony

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, October 6, 2016, Billy J. Williams, United States Attorney for the District of Oregon, Captain Kevin Modica from the Portland Police Bureau, and Reverend Dr. LeRoy Haynes Jr. from the Albina Ministerial Alliance attended the inaugural Distinguished Service in Community Policing Awards Ceremony at the Justice Department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

U.S. Attorney Williams praised his guests’ hard work and commitment to community policing throughout the Portland area. “Community policing is founded in the commitment of both law enforcement and citizens working together to build trust and safer neighborhoods. I admire Captain Modica and Rev. Dr. Haynes’s leadership in building bridges between our law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. True community-oriented policing,” Williams continued, “is not a goal that can be achieved overnight, but with the hard work of these two men and others in our community, I am confident that our work will be a success.”

Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and Deputy Attorney General Sally Q. Yates delivered remarks at the inaugural event, along with Ronald Davis, Director of the DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local or tribal sworn police officers and deputies who exemplify remarkable achievements in innovative community policing strategies, criminal investigations, and field operations.

The awards ceremony was held in conjunction with National Community Policing Week. During the week of October 2-8, 2016, the Justice Department will host nearly 400 events to support community policing efforts around the country. To learn more, please visit go.usa.gov/xkxEU.