Community Crime Officer Awards

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE 821-2828

A n th o n y B ro w n L t. G o v e r n o r K r is te n M a h o n e y E x e cu tiv e D ire c to r

CONTACT: KRISTEN MAHONEY 410-

Seven Police Officers Awarded for Outstanding Community Work Officers Recognized by Governor for their efforts in Neighborhoods (November 10, 2008) Baltimore – Governor Martin O’Malley has awarded seven police officers from across the state for their outstanding and significant roles in fighting crime and partnering with neighborhoods. The officers each received a Governor’s Citation or exceptional police work in partnership with community organizations. The seven officers are:

Officer Robert L. Croxton, Sr. nominated by Reisterstown – Park Heights South Team, Inc. •

Officer Croxton brings a calm demeanor, dedication, and a passion for people.

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What is truly noteworthy about Officer Robert L. Croxton, Sr. is that he has almost

single-handedly begun to restore the confidence of the community residents in law enforcement. •

He has worked so hard that Officer Croxton has been given the nickname of “Flashlight” by the criminal element of Park Heights, because he will search thoroughly for drugs, even in dark alleys.

Officer Kenneth Dickstein nominated by Shomrim of Baltimore (beyond a traditional Citizens on Patrol) •

Officer Dickstein acts as our liaison with all levels of the Baltimore Police; he attends our

roll call meetings as well as assists on calls when required. He has truly been a role model to our organization and has guided our behavior and thinking when dealing with the various forms of calls our organization receives. He has taught us how to mediate disputes and how to interact with the general public. Officer Dickstein has taken on the role of a mentor to our members and is well respected in our community. He has taken a true interest in our activities and has been extremely responsive to our needs and the needs of our community. •

Some say good fences make good neighbors; in our estimation, a good partnership with law enforcement makes good neighborhoods.

Officer Bernadette Mosher nominated by Cherry Hill Trust, Inc. •

Because Officer Mosher has allowed us to have access to her intelligence on a schedule that requires quite a bit of her own time, we have been more effective at planning our crime prevention strategies.

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Her ability to anticipate the information we need has made us very effective at mapping hot spots and planning our COP walks.

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This unique relationship with Officer Mosher has helped us to be more effective and has allowed us to recruit new members based on that record.

Officer Phil A. Dixon (Major Warfield) nominated by Park Circle Improvement Association •

Officer Dixon has helped our association establish a new center for our neighborhood’s kids. With his assistance we have set up an after-school athletic program for kids 8-19. We have now enrolled over 30 kids that are no longer in the streets.

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Officer Dixon is actively involved with the kids and assists as he can with guidance as well as coaching. The kids now look up to him and respect him. In our environment, these kids haven’t been used to or exposed to positive role models and Officer Dixon has had a huge impact on these kids’ lives.

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We couldn’t be happier to have him in our district.

Corporal Jason King of the Salisbury Police Department nominated by Westside Revitalization Team •

In the spring of 2008 gang activity began to escalate in the Pemberton Manor Apartment complex. Calls for service were on the rise, residents were afraid to leave their apartments and children could not use the playground. As supervisor of the SPD gang unit, Cpl. King designed a resident crime survey and personally went door-to-door to every apartment unit speaking with each resident. King and his officers assisted residents with completing the surveys. Information from the survey helped SPD plan a targeted effort to reduce gang activity in the complex. Over the past 3 months, gang related crime has dropped 29% and juvenile crime activity has dropped 18%.

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During his tenure as a community policing patrol officer, King immersed himself in the CSAFE communities becoming more than just the familiar face of the community police officer. He went out of his way to personally know the residents and their issues providing not only police service, but community resource information as well. He truly embodied the definition of what community policing should be.

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Cpl. King’s dedication has directly contributed to an improved quality of life for residents in the CSAFE areas. He is repeatedly commended for the consistently respectful way he treats residents, crime victims, and fellow officers. He has earned the respect of law enforcement personnel at all levels.

Officer Kenneth Jeedong Hahn, Montgomery County Department of Police

nominated by the Korean American Association of the State of Maryland •

Officer Hahn was born in Korea and lived in Saudi Arabia for two years before coming to the United States in his junior year of high school. He was 34 and a Bank Branch Manager of three branches when he decided to pursue his first goal of a career in law enforcement. He had been impressed by his father’s dedication toward helping people.

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In 2005 Hahn planned an Asian soccer tournament between MCPD officers and teams form the Korean, Chinese and North Vietnamese communities. “I wanted us to be running, laughing, and sweating together, so they could see that police officers are people too, and approachable” That tournament is still remembered fondly among the Asian communities.

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As a result of Officer Hahn’s work, we were able to work closely with Montgomery County Police (without distrust and cultural misunderstanding) not only to address Asian American communities’ concerns, but also to educate the Asian American communities on public safety issues for the benefit of all communities. He has made a large mark in increasing the diversity of the Montgomery County Police force via attracting many Asian Americans to become officers of the Department.

Officer Deborah McAulay of the Baltimore County Police Department nominated by Stoneybrook Community Association •

Officer McAulay serves 17 community associations and she goes beyond the call of duty to serve Randallstown, Maryland - an area that is constantly growing.

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She speaks at our general community meeting every couple of months. She gives us crime statistics and educates the community on safety issues. If a act of vandalism takes place in the community, after calling 911, we notify Officer McAulay because we know she is going to take a special interest in resolving the issue.