The Police Department, or its members, won the following awards or earned the following recognition in 2009:
- 2009 VACP Lifesaving Award: The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Lifesaving Award recognizes an officer's actions that put the officer in harm's way while attempting to save the life of another individual. The recipients from the Prince William County Police Department are Officer Cottrell Derrick and Officer Jessica Tacha.
- Dale City Civic Association Fourth-of-July Parade Awards: The Department's Horse Mounted Patrol Unit won first place in the "Equestrian" category. The Department's Motorcycle Unit won first place in the "Motorcycles" category. The Department's Mobile Command Unit won first place in the "Non-Commercial Vehicles" category, and the Prince William County Public Safety Honor Guard, which includes members of the Police Department's Honor Guard Unit, received second place in the "Best Color Guard, Non-Military" category.
- Smooth Operator Award: Officer Ronald Allen and Master Police Officer Ramon Gomez were honored at the region’s annual Smooth Operator luncheon for the diligent enforcement of traffic violations during the 2008 campaign. The awards were presented by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). The Department’s sworn members issued citations during the Smooth Operator enforcement program, which targets those traffic offenses most closely associated with aggressive driving including speeding, seat belt and child-safety-seat violations, following too closely, red-light running, traffic-sign violations, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving (including passing school buses), improper passing, unsafe lane changes and failing to yield.
- Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE): Public Safety Services Technician Shellie Reid received the Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE), which recognizes individuals and/or groups who have made outstanding contributions in creating or maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, consistent with Risk Management policies and Prince William County's vision and values. She was presented the award at the annual Safety Awards Ceremony in early 2009. She developed a lighting inspection system for the Western District Station as well as a ice-detection system of the station's walkways and parking lots -- both in furtherance of workplace safety and a safe environment for visitors to the facility.
- Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE): The Police Department received a Safe Driving Award for achieving a 21-percent average reduction in the severity, frequency and incidence rate for motor vehicles in 2008, compared with the same period in 2007.
- 2008 Police Officer of the Year Award, Dale City Civic Association: Officer Ed McDermott and Officer Matt Smith were named the Dale City Civic Association's 2008 Police Officer of the Year in January 2009..
The Police Department, or its members, won the following awards or earned the following recognition in 2008:
- 2008 VACP Lifesaving Award: The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Lifesaving Award recognizes an officer's actions that put the officer in harm's way while attempting to save the life of another individual. The recipients from the Prince William County Police Department are Detective Christopher Bradford, Officer Christopher Drew and Sergeant Kenneth Hulsey.
- Manassas Kiwanis Club's Heroes Appreciation Award: Officer Dave Ehrhardt received this award "for solving a case in which nine youths were arrested and charged with placing objects on the highway that caused several crashes and damage to many vehicles. It took a lot of work piecing the case together and getting the numerous charges placed against the individuals, such as destruction of property, trespassing and littering the highway. The Heroes Appreciation Awards are given to pay tribute to the men and women who serve the community in law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency services and related fields.
- 2008 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award: The Robbery Suppression Initiative was one of four County government programs to receive an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The Department's Street Crimes Unit was tasked with conducting a Robbery Suppression Initiative to reduce the number of robberies. Members conducted street-level enforcement in the identified areas by being highly visible, initiating contact with subjects seen in the area and adhering to a "zero tolerance" policy. Members also established a rapport and level of trust within the largely victimized Hispanic community, in particular the business community. The initiative resulted in an increase in the robbery clearance rate, led to money and weapon seizures, hundreds of criminal charges and a reduction in the number of robberies in 2007. The award is given to recognize county governments on a national level for hard work in promoting quality, efficiency and responsibility in county government management and administration.
- 2008 County Executive's Award: Congratulations to the Criminal Investigative Division's Burglary Investigation Team, whose members won a County Executive’s Award on May 29, 2008, for the successful investigation and arrests of individuals who were responsible for a rash of burglaries in the County. The Unit's members are (in alphabetical order and rank at the time of the award nomination): Master Detective Peter Barlow, Detective Richard Brown, Detective Cameron Crouch, Senior Detective Wayne Graves, Detective Ashley Gwinn, Melanie Kent-Knapczyk, Heidi Paiva, Master Detective Stephen Piaskowski, Master Detective Patric Quinn, Detective Lee Somerford and Master Detective Steven Varvaro. Additional congratulations go to Lieutenant Heidi Daniel and Major (Ret.) Daniel Taber, who also won a County Executive's Award as part of the County-wide DRIVE Steering Team, which was tasked with developing and overseeing the implementation and training of County government's new employee evaluation system.
VASAP/MADD Award: Officers Stephen Cieslinski, Robert Donnan, Marc Grayson and Edward McDermott were honored at the 17th Annual Awards for Excellence in Community Service and Public Safety. The award is sponsored by the Northern Virginia chapters of Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The four officers demonstrated an outstanding work ethic and superior DUI detection skills which resulted in removing dangerous, intoxicated drivers from the County's roadways, making the roads safer for our residents.
- Virginia Crime Prevention Association Awards: Two of the County's Neighborhood Watches - Batley Place in Lake Ridge and Crossroads Village in Gainesville - were recognized by the VCPA as this year's "Community Organization Award" winners. Congratulations to the citizen-members of these two Neighborhood Watch groups as well as to the Crime Prevention Unit staff who work with them to ensure that their neighborhoods are safe!
- 2008 Valor Awards: Seven members of the Prince William County Police Department received 2008 Valor Awards "in honor of those who have served our region and its people beyond the call of duty" at a ceremony hosted by the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce. Those honored at the 22nd Annual Valor Awards ceremony were: Officer Christopher C. Bradford, Officer Kenneth , Officer Christopher A. Drew, Officer Donald A. Hoffman, Officer Scott A. Watt, Officer Gary P. Brunelle and Officer Mark Depatie.
- 2007 USPCA Triple Crown Award: Officer Bill VanAntwerp, Officer Greg Moore and Officer Marshall Daniel recently were informed that they will be recipients of the 2007 United States Police Canine Association’s (USPCA) "Triple Crown" Award. The Triple Crown is awarded annually to the Region Three member in good standing who achieves certification in three areas – Police Dog, Tracking, and Detector – in a calendar year (January to December). The team may obtain these certifications at any sanctioned USPCA trials (including make-up, mini, and out-of-region trials). The member must be employed within the geographic boundaries of Region Three, and the handler must use the same canine in each trial. Congratulations to all three officers and their canine partners!
- Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE): Lieutenant Joseph Ryan and 1st Sergeant Jarad Phelps received the Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE), which recognizes individuals and/or groups who have made outstanding contributions in creating or maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, consistent with Risk Management policies and Prince William County's vision and values. They were presented the award at the annual Safety Awards Ceremony in December 2007. During the period cited, they initiated a review of all police bicycle officer training which resulted in a marked decline in bicycle training-related injuries in FY 2007.
The Police Department, or its members, won the following awards or earned the following recognition in 2007:
- Smooth Operator Award: Officer Roland Mulligan, Officer Scott Criss and Officer Matt West were honored at the region’s annual Smooth Operator luncheon for the diligent enforcement of traffic violations during the 2007 campaign. The awards were presented by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG). This year, the Department’s sworn members issued 5,479 citations during the Smooth Operator enforcement program, which targets those traffic offenses most closely associated with aggressive driving including speeding, seat belt and child-safety-seat violations, following too closely, red-light running, traffic-sign violations, driving while intoxicated, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving (including passing school buses), improper passing, unsafe lane changes and failing to yield.
- FBI National Academy: Lieutenant Richard Cundiff, a 20-year veteran of the Police Department, graduated from the prestigious National Academy of the FBI at Quantico in September 2007. He is the 39th Prince William County police officer to have attended the National Academy program since the Department's inception in 1970. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy program, held at the FBI Academy, offers 10 weeks of advanced investigative, management and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies.
Beedie-Crutchfield Award (FBI National Academy): Major Daniel E. Taber, the Department's assistant chief of Administration, has been selected as the 2007 recipient of the FBI National Academy's Beedie-Crutchfield Award. Presented annually, this award recognizes a National Academy graduate for outstanding contributions and service to the FBI National Academy program. Major Taber was selected by the Virginia Chapter of the FBI National Academy for his longstanding involvement, leadership and guidance to the chapter. He graduated from the FBI National Academy program on September 14, 1992. In the years following his graduation, Major Taber served on the chapter's board of directors for eight years, culminating in his selection as president for the 2005-06 term of office. He continues to remain heavily involved with the chapter.
FBI National Academy: Lieutenant Heidi Daniel, an 18-year veteran of the Police Department, graduated from the prestigious National Academy of the FBI at Quantico in June 2007. She is the 38th Prince William County police officer to have attended the National Academy program since the Department's inception in 1970. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy program, held at the FBI Academy, offers 10 weeks of advanced investigative, management and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies.
Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Award: The CQI Award is the County government’s effort to support staff in improving processes to better serve our customers. It is based on tools and techniques that help review, analyze and revise processes to ensure they are working well. The CQI Award is presented annually to individuals, groups or departments that undertake strategies, tools, efforts and techniques to improve their internal processes. Police Department personnel were recognized with three CQI Awards for 2007. Bronze Award: Police Street Crimes Unit – Robbery Task Force Concept. This involved the manner in which the Street Crimes Unit approached the problem of a significant increase in street robberies resulting in a sizable increase in arrests, money and firearms seizures. Gold Award: eRecruiting Improvements. Donna Wells from Police Personnel was part of a multi-agency team recognized for their efforts at improved recruitment using on-line resources. Gold Award: Virginia Uniform Summons (VUS) Station Identifier Project. Several employees of the Records Bureau identified an issue concerning the amount of staff time it was taking to sort and distribute Driver Transcripts to officers. They implemented a change to the VUS that provided information that dramatically cut staff time needed to accomplish this task.
2007 County Executive's Award: Congratulations to the Criminal Investigative Division's Street Crimes Unit whose members won a County Executive’s Award on June 1, 2007, for a successful robbery suppression initiative designed to cut or eliminate a rash of street-crimes in the County. The Unit's members are (in alphabetical and then-rank order): First Sergeant Daniel Hess, Sergeant Michael Lewis, Sergeant John Wojcik, Detective David Bassett, Detective Michael Fernald, Detective Bryan Kelly, Detective Matthew McCauley, Detective Joseph Medawar, Detective Bryan Nevitt, Detective Michael Sullivan, Officer John Christopher, Officer Jay Gutschmidt, Officer Raleigh Harris, Officer Jerry Mackling, Officer Joseph Nicewonger, Officer Andrew Shumate, Officer Wayne Smith and Crime Analyst Maria Sanchez.
VASAP/MADD Award: Officer Edward J. McDermott and Master Police Officer William J. Anzenberger were honored at the 16th Annual Awards for Excellence in Community Service and Public Safety on May 18, 2007. The award is sponsored by the Northern Virginia Alcohol Safety Program and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Both officers demonstrated an outstanding work ethic and superior DUI detection skills which resulted in removing dangerous, intoxicated drivers from the County's roadways, making the roads safer for our citizens.
Chaplain of the Year: Police Department Chaplain Gene Chumley received the Industrial and Commercial Ministries, Inc.'s (ICM) Chaplain of the Year Award at a banquet on May 10, 2007. Chaplain Chumley has been with the Department for 24 years, since 1983. During that time, he has assisted hundreds of citizens and officers through many difficult and trying times and has been a great source of comfort and support. Chaplain Chumley serves at the Church of Christ in Dale City. ICM is an ecumenical, not-for-profit organization that equips, places and supports volunteer chaplains in America's places of work.
COG Motor Vehicle Theft Award: Officer Robert Barron was honored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) for his work in cracking a string of motorcycle thefts in Prince William County. The COG Chiefs of Police Motor Vehicle Theft Subcommittee conferred this award at a meeting in April. The award was established in 2000 to recognize its members for achievements in motor-vehicle theft-related crimes.
Wayne F. Anderson Alumni Award for Distinguished Public Service, Department of Public and International Affairs, George Mason University: Chief Charlie T. Deane received the award on April 18, 2007. It is given annually to deserving GMU graduates who have distinguished themselves through public service, thereby bringing credit to themselves and reflecting favorably on the university.
2007 Valor Awards: Five members of the Prince William County Police Department received 2007 Valor Awards “in honor of those who have served our region and its people beyond the call of duty” at a ceremony hosted by the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce. Those honored at the 21st annual Valor Awards ceremony were: Officers David Burghart, Brian Gardner, Scott Lawhead and David McKeown, Detective Jennifer Evans, and members of the Street Robbery Task Force (including members of the Street Crimes Unit, Bike Team, and the Special Problems Unit).
Click it or Ticket Awards: The Department received two awards in March 2007 from the Virginia Occupant Protection Program -- an initiative of the federal government administered through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles -- for its 2006 "Click it or Ticket" campaign. The first award was given to the Department "for the greatest increase in community safety belt use in Virginia during the 2006 Click it or Ticket mobilization" -- a five percent increase in safety belt use. The category for this award is among all law enforcement agencies in Virginia with 451 to 700 officers. The second award was given to the Department "for the highest community safety belt use rate in Virginia, achieved during the 2006 Click it or Ticket mobilization" -- an 86 percent safety belt use rate. The Department was in the same category for this award.
2006 Police Officer of the Year Award, Dale City Civic Association: Master Police Officer Bobby Williams was named the Dale City Civic Association's 2006 Police Officer of the Year in March 2007.
2006 USPCA Triple Crown Award: Officer Bill VanAntwerp and Officer Greg Moore recently were informed that they will be recipients of the 2006 United States Police Canine Association’s (USPCA) "Triple Crown" Award. The Triple Crown is awarded annually to the Region Three member in good standing who achieves certification in three areas – Police Dog, Tracking, and Detector – in a calendar year (January to December). The team may obtain these certifications at any sanctioned USPCA trials (including make-up, mini, and out-of-region trials). The member must be employed within the geographic boundaries of Region Three, and the handler must use the same canine in each trial. Congratulations to both officers and their canine partners!
Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE): Lieutenant Mel Quattlebaum received the Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE), which recognizes individuals and/or groups who have made outstanding contributions in creating or maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, consistent with Risk Management policies and Prince William County's vision and values. He was presented the award at the annual Safety Awards Ceremony in December 2006. During the period cited, Lt. Quattlebaum managed the Criminal Justice Academy's Firearms Training Unit.
Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE): Captain Rob Forker and Sheila Ragan also received the Safety Award for Excellence (SAFE), which recognizes individuals and/or groups who have made outstanding contributions in creating or maintaining a safe and healthy workplace, consistent with Risk Management policies and Prince William County's vision and values. They were presented the award at the annual Safety Awards Ceremony in December 2006. During the period cited, Captain Forker was director of Public Safety Communications, and Ms. Ragan is Operations Manager for Public Safety Communications.
The Police Department, or its members, won the following awards or earned the following recognition in 2006:
- 2006 Law Enforcement Award of Excellence: Officer Edward McDermott received this award from the Washington Regional Alcohol Program for his work in impaired driving prevention last year. Officer McDermott, who joined the Department in 2002, is a patrol officer in the Eastern District. Founded in 1982, WRAP is a public-private coalition formed to fight drunk driving, drugged driving and underage drinking in the Washington metropolitan area.
- FBI National Academy: Lieutenant Kevin Hughart, a 17-year veteran of the Police Department, graduated from the prestigious National Academy of the FBI at Quantico in December 2006. He is the 35th Prince William County police officer to have attended the National Academy program since the Department's inception in 1970. Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy program, held at the FBI Academy, offers 10 weeks of advanced investigative, management and fitness training for selected officers having proven records as professionals within their agencies.
- Prince William Crime Prevention Council Awards: The winners of the annual awards program included Officer Kimberly Sawicki - Meritorious Service Award; Tim and Lori Castle - Citizenship Award; Wal-Mart stores (including Sam's Clubs) - Executive Award; Dunn-Marr Neighborhood (eastern Prince William County) and Crossroads Village Neighborhood (western Prince William County) - Outstanding Neighborhood Watch Award; Highland Chase Neighborhood Watch - Most Improved Neighborhood Watch Award; and Parker Anderson - Crime Prevention Youth Award. Congratulations to all!
- 2006 Virginia Association of Counties (VACo) Achievement Award: The Department's BE AWARE program - which was jointly developed by the Department's School Resource Officers and staff from Prince William County Schools - includes education about bullying prevention, gang awareness, drug and alcohol abuse, conflict management, stealing, Internet safety, personal decision making skills, curfew and runaway information, personal safety, and a class action program. The County's 52 elementary schools can have the program customized to meet their specific needs. The BE AWARE program can also be tailored to each grade level, resulting in more student interaction with School Resource Officers. BE AWARE earned the VACo Achievement Award in November. The award recognizes local government programs in nine categories. Awards criteria include innovation, collaboration and model practices. The award program is designed to recognize the best in county-government programs.
- 2006 County Executive's Award: Congratulations to the team of five men who won a County Executive’s Award for their work coordinating security for the 2005 President’s Cup PGA Golf Tournament. The five, who received the award during a program in June at the VFW Hall, are (in alphabetical and rank order): Captain Ronald Christofano, Captain Robert Forker, Captain Ted McInteer, First Sergeant Christopher Feather and First Sergeant John Twomey.
- Prince William SPCA Humane Heroes Award: Animal Control Sergeant Lorie Shetley on April 5, 2006, received the Prince William SPCA's first Humane Heroes Award (along with Manassas Animal Control Officer Susan Caskey) for relief efforts in Gulfport, Miss., in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The two ACOs brought back dogs and cats from that hard-hit area and gave them a new lease on life by allowing the animals to be adopted through the two animal shelters. The animals were all adopted.
- 2006 Valor Awards: Five members of the Prince William County Police Department received 2006 Valor Awards “in honor of those who have served our region and its people beyond the call of duty” at a ceremony hosted by the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce. Those honored at the 20th annual Valor Awards ceremony were: Officers John Piersol, Jay Gutschmidt, Robert Davis, and Daniel Crawford, as well as Detective Joshua Wehmeyer.
- Washington Area Council of Government's Animal Control Officer (ACO) Outstanding Service Award: Animal Control Sergeant Lorie Shetley received an Honorable Mention award on March 3, 2006, for her outstanding work on the Artois wolf hybrid case the previous May.
The Police Department, or its members, won the following awards or earned the following recognition in 2005:
- Safety Award For Excellence (SAFE): Captain Fred Miller received a Safety Award For Excellence from Prince William County government on December 7, 2005. The award is made to an individual or group who has made outstanding contributions in creating or maintaining a safe and health workplace, consistent with Risk Management policies and the Prince William County government Vision and Values. During the period cited in the award, Captain Miller headed the Prince William County Criminal Justice Academy.
- 2005 Law Enforcement Challenge Award: The Department received second place in the nation for its overall traffic-safety programs. This award, given by law enforcement size and type, is sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
- 2005 National Child Passenger Safety Award: The Department received this prestigious award from the VACP in recognition of its enforcement and education programs, including monthly child safety-seat inspections performed with the SafeKids Coalition, assistance for low-income families in obtaining proper child-restraint devices, and a strong focus on violation enforcement.
- 2005 Virginia Law Enforcement Challenge Award: The Department took top honors in the annual, statewide competition -- sponsored by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police (VACP) -- between law enforcement agencies of similar size and type. The Challenge Awards recognize and reward those agencies with the best overall traffic-safety programs.
- 2005 Virginia Child Passenger Safety Award: The Department received this prestigious award from the VACP in recognition of its enforcement and education programs, including monthly child safety-seat inspections performed with the SafeKids Coalition, assistance for low-income families in obtaining proper child-restraint devices, and a strong focus on violation enforcement.
- Egon Bittner Award (CALEA): Chief Charlie T. Deane was one of nine recipients of a 2004 Egon Bittner Award -- given by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) -- in recognition of his long service to both the law enforcement profession and CALEA. Only chiefs of police of agencies that have been accredited by CALEA for 15 or more years were eligible for the Egon Bittner Award, which is presented to those agencies that have "demonstrated an outstanding commitment to CALEA and the accreditation process."
- 2005 County Executive's Award: Crime Analyst Maria Sanchez received a County Executive's Award for her dedication to providing superior customer service to the community and to members of the Police Department. Although it is not part of her job responsibilities, Maria has become a Spanish-language translator for the Department, an invaluable skill for detectives and officers during their investigations. Her dual language ability has proven to be essential in communicating with victims, and she is often called upon to provide translations after her work hours. Maria has also taken steps to become Child Seat Safety Certified to assist those members of the community who speak Spanish. By working outside the boundaries of her job responsibilities, Maria strives to do the right thing for the customer and the community.
- 2005 Valor Awards: Eleven members received 2005 Valor Awards "in honor of those who have served our region and its people beyond the call of duty" at a March ceremony hosted by the Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce. Those honored were (in alphabetical order): Officers S.L. Bennett, D.J. Cumings, R.J. Davis, M.A. Depatie, Crossing Guard Annette "Scotty" Juran, Officers R.V. Knapczyk II, B.C. Nevitt, J.N. Sutton, E.Z. Toto, W.F. Van Antwerp, and H.A. Vance.
- Virginia Crime Prevention Association Awards: Wally Goitia, a member of the Department's Law Enforcement Explorers Post #1268, won the VCPA Youth Award for 2005. Manassas Mall won the VCPA’s Private Industry Award for 2005. Both the mall and Ms. Goitia were recognized for their crime prevention accomplishments during the past year. The Virginia Crime Prevention Association, Inc. was established in 1978 to develop and implement programs that prevent crime by focusing on reducing opportunities for crime. The VCPA partners with law enforcement, community groups, schools businesses, public housing, the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, the Virginia Community Policing Institute, the Virginia State Police, the National Crime Prevention Council and other organizations to deliver programs and services. Services include training, technical assistance, program development, advocacy and resource material.
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