Arnold is Westminster's Police Officer of the Year

http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/2569/citys-top-cop-has-record-excellence/

City's top cop has record of excellence

Arnold is Westminster's Police Officer of the Year

By Bob Allen
ballen@patuxent.com

Posted 3/18/09

(Enlarge) Westminster Police Chief Jeff Spaulding, left, congratulates Officer Steve Arnold, center, as Officer of the Year, as Arnold’s wife Diana Arnold, right, looks on. In previous years, Arnold has received the department’s Volunteer of the Year and Civilian of the Year honors. (Staff photo by Go Takayama)

At the Westminster Police Department's annual award ceremony, held March 16 at McDaniel College's Decker Center, Chief Jeff Spaulding said major crimes decreased by 9 percent in Westminster in 2008.

The department's 18 police officers, civilian employees and volunteers honored at the Monday afternoon ceremony were partly responsible for that decrease, he said.

"I really can't explain (the decrease) except that there's been a lot of good work done by the people in this department," Spaulding said.

The highest award, for 2008 Police Officer of the Year, went to South Carroll High School graduate, Private First Class Steve Arnold.

Spaulding detailed the eight-year department veteran's accomplishments last year. As a patrol officer, he responded to 600 calls and provided backup on more than 300 additional calls.

Arnold also took part in 116 criminal investigations, resulting in 133 arrests.

[...]

The department's 2008 Civilian of the Year award went to Karen Bullock, a nine-year veteran.

"With each passing year, Karen plays a more pivotal role in nearly every aspect of our operations," Spaulding said as he presented the award. "She is really the oil on the gears that keep me and the rest of the department working efficiently."

Additional 2008 award winners were as follows:

*Hampstead resident Cecilia Dembroski, a retired accountant who logged 176 hours last year while lending a hand with various clerical and administrative duties, earned the Volunteer of the Year Award.

*Communications Specialist Linda Knott and Corp. Radcliffe Darby were recipients of the department's 2008 Community Service Awards.

*Detective First Class Rick Lambert, PFC Will Valentine, Lt. Kenny Carlisle and volunteer Zack Zumwald received Chief's Commendation Awards for exemplary work in various specialties.

*The Chief's Challenge Award for top DUI enforcement went to Cpl. Jesse Clagett.

*The Chief's Challenge Award for top total law enforcement was presented to Officer Michael Beaumont.

There were six additional recipients of Chief's Challenge Awards -- Lt. Douglas Johnston, Sgt. Michael Bible, PFC Michael Beaumont, PFC Ronald Garner, PFC Adam Laser and PFC Steve Launchi.

Top Shooter Award went to PFC Steve Launchi, who turned in the department's top 2008 score on the shooting range ... 100 percent.

[...]

http://www.explorecarroll.com/news/2569/citys-top-cop-has-record-excellence/

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