A program to help students who lack school supplies, clothes, and other basic necessities of day-to-day life.

A four-hour negotiation with an irate woman with a rifle that ended peacefully.

A lengthy investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of a man who had been abusing children for decades.

A shootout that injured two officers who nevertheless managed to protect the lives of others and show more concern for the other individuals present than they did for themselves.

These are just some examples of the outstanding law enforcement work that was honored in Washington, DC, on June 5 at the ceremony for the sixth annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing. This award recognizes officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in the areas of criminal investigations, field operations, and innovative community policing strategies. The COPS Office has had the privilege of overseeing the administration of the award since its inception. This year, the COPS Office received almost 200 nominations, representing a variety of law enforcement agencies from 49 states.

The nominations went through several stages of review, starting with a panel of representatives from 10 leading law enforcement stakeholder associations and groups:

1. Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA)
2. Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
3. Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA)
4. International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
5. Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA)
6. Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA)
7. National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE)
8. National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
9. National Sheriffs Association (NSA)
10. Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)

The initial evaluation was followed by a federal panel of executive level reviewers from several U.S. Department of Justice components. Recommendations resulting from those two processes were then submitted to the Attorney General for selection, who determined the 19 recipients of the award.

In addressing the awardees during the ceremony, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, “Every day, law enforcement officers across the country work to protect their communities. They forge and maintain the strong community ties that are essential to ensuring public safety. And they put their lives on the line to make their communities better places to live.”

Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta told the honorees that she hopes they know “just how much everyone appreciates and deeply values your contributions to keeping our communities safe and to building trust and strengthening police community relationships. It’s the backbone of safe and healthy communities.”

COPS Office Director Hugh Clements was the Master of Ceremonies for the program, telling participants that, “The officers being honored here today weren’t trying to win any awards or do anything heroic—they were just doing their jobs. But they are heroes, because they put their lives on the line every day for us and work to make sure our communities are safe places to live, and work, and raise our families. We owe them our gratitude and our respect.”

The recipients were joined at the ceremony by family and friends, and in many cases their law enforcement executives and the U.S. Attorney representing their district. Ceremony attendees also included the heads of several U.S. Department of Justice components, as well as representatives from law enforcement stakeholder groups.

The ceremony and press release are available online, as well as complete lists of winners from each year and additional information about the award.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the open nomination period for the seventh annual awards!

Tweet