Over the next several blogs, the International Association of Chiefs of Police will recognize the 2019 IACP Leadership Award Winners, who have made meaningful contributions to both their communities, and law enforcement as a whole. Their achievements are representative of the incredible leadership displayed by police organizations across the globe. 

This blog series will focus on leadership. The awards for leadership recognize those who demonstrate excellence in the establishment and management of law enforcement programs which meet the specific needs of their community. These agencies and individuals go above and beyond to provide quality services through programmatic efforts and community relations.   

IACP Leadership in Human and Civil Rights Award 

The IACP Leadership in Human and Civil Rights Award recognizes agencies and individuals who have demonstrated leadership in protecting fundamental rights. This award showcases the achievements of agencies and individuals in protecting and promoting human and civil rights to enhance public trust and maintain cooperation and partnerships with communities. 

Agency  
Arlington, Texas, Police Department  

The Arlington Police Department (APD) has enhanced its hate crime reporting protocols and hosted specialized trainings to prosecutors, officers, and civilian investigators to improve their response to hate crimes. The goal of the Arlington Hate Crimes Training was to develop a greater understanding of the need for effective and prompt hate crime enforcement; identify bias indicators in response to hate crimes; strengthen the skills necessary to engage with the victim; enhance the ability to determine what facts are necessary to substantiate the criminal charge; determine how prosecutors and police can work together effectively to obtain a conviction; and accurately report hate crime data. In 2019, an 8-hour mandatory hate crimes course was given to all APD officers focusing on the clarification of a hate crime compared to other crime, reporting changes, and new protocol regarding hate crimes. Due to the policy and protocol changes, community members have a stronger collective voice when reporting egregious incidents that are motivated by hate or biases. 

Individual 
Detective Joseph Moeller 
Grapevine, Texas, Police Department 

In the summer of 2017, an African American family moved into an apartment in Grapevine, Texas. Almost immediately, pervasive harassment began. The family called the Grapevine Police Department after finding a series of nooses hanging a dark-skinned baby doll on their apartment balcony. Detective Joseph Moeller began investigating and after conducting several interviews, identified a potential suspect. Detective Moeller employed a number of investigative techniques and took countless steps to collect evidence for the case. Detective Moeller not only identified and linked the suspect to the crime of harassment, he also contacted the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas office and shared his investigation. The U.S. Attorney was able to then charge and convict the suspect with interference with housing on top of the harassment state charge.  

IACP/BodyWorn by Utility Leadership in Volunteer Police Service Programs Award 

The IACP/BodyWorn by Utility Leadership in Volunteer Police Service Programs Award recognizes volunteer programs that demonstrate innovative, effective practices for augmenting sworn or civilian staff and/or improving service delivery to their communities. Established in 2003, the goal of the award program is to recognize the value that volunteers provide to state and local law enforcement and to institutionalize the theories and practices of the United States’ Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program. This award promotes leadership among law enforcement agencies to develop and implement creative and effective law enforcement volunteer programs. Learn more about BodyWorn by Utility.  

Auxiliary/Reserve Volunteer Police Service Program  
Phoenix, Arizona, Police Department 

On May 17, 1918, the Commission of the city of Phoenix formally recognized and established the Phoenix Police Reserve. Members of the police reserve were vested with all the powers and responsibilities of regular police officers. In 1941, the Phoenix Police Reserve evolved into the Phoenix Civil Defense Special Police, as a part of the United States’ preparations for World War II. Beginning in the 1950s, special police officers began to be referred to as reserve police officers. The Reserve Division is now one of the Phoenix Police Department’s (PPD) six major operational divisions. Over the last several years, the PPD has significantly enhanced its reserve police officer organization by infusing substantial resources and career personnel, through creative marketing and recruitment campaigns, and by fully utilizing reserve officers in daily operations and specialty details. These full-authority peace officers work independently as patrol officers, motorcycle officers, detectives, and helicopter pilots, and in many other specialty assignments throughout the agency. Last year, PPD’s reserve officers donated more than 36,000 hours of police services and made extraordinary contributions to the public safety of their community.

Watch the video.

Comprehensive Volunteer Police Service Program 
Dayton, Ohio, Police Department 

The Neighborhood Assistance Officer (NAO) program began as a federally funded grant experiment in 1969 and was fully instituted in 1970. When the grant expired, the unique form of citizen participation impressed the local government so much that it became completely funded by the City of Dayton. The current NAO volunteer program contains 18 neighborhood assistance officers and a fulltime manager. The volunteers complete 60 hours of specialized training and 6 months of street training before becoming a full duty member of the unit. They are required to work at least 1 night per week — with a minimum participation of 192 hours per year. The NAO volunteers patrol streets; assist at accident, fire, and other emergency scenes; conduct vacation house checks; provide traffic direction for community events; and fulfill other duties as needed. NAO volunteers increasingly contribute to police department community engagement activities and provide valuable support to civic participation throughout the city.

Watch the video.