The Justice Department has announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This award acknowledges law enforcement officers who have shown exceptional dedication to building trust, engaging with communities, and improving public safety.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice. They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.”
The award honors individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for their outstanding efforts in community policing across three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.
Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer remarked, “Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve. We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day."
The 2024 recipients include:
- Criminal Investigations: Detective Matthew Newbold (Polk County Sheriff's Office), Detective Liz Grant (Kennewick Police Department), Detective Tyler Norman (Salt Lake City Police Department), Officer Reece Walno (Spearfish Police Department).
- Field Operations: Deputy Sheriff Jahmar Robinson (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office), Lance Corporal Justin Boyd (Columbia Police Department), Detective/Community Policing Officer Stephen Leacroy (La Marque Police Department).
- Innovations in Community Policing: Corporal Adrian Maldonado and Deputies James Mackey, Jason Coker, Tammy Fox, Yanick Exceus (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office); Detective Edwin Hugh and Officer Thomas Joy (Suffolk County Police Department); Officers Stephen Malandro, Trevor Stamper, Specialist Todd Nutbrown (Largo Police Department); Officers Wesley Griffith and Bill Koehn (Overland Park Police Department); Master Officers Thomas Rodriquez and Shauna Moller (Manassas City Police Department).
Director Hugh T. Clements Jr., from the Justice Department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), expressed his admiration for these officers by saying, “It is an honor to share the stage with these recipients. I am inspired by their actions and service.”
These officers were chosen from a nationwide pool for their significant contributions to creating safer and more inclusive communities.
The Justice Department commends these officers for their leadership and commitment to their communities. More information about the awards can be found at www.justice.gov.
The COPS Office is a federal component within the Justice Department focused on advancing community policing nationwide since its establishment in 1994. It has provided over $20 billion in funding to support law enforcement agencies across various jurisdictions.