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**U.S. Department of Justice** Office of Community Oriented Policing Services  145 N Street, N.E.  Washington, DC 20530 www.cops.usdoj.gov×  Menu  - Home
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**Profiles of Distinguished Law Enforcement**
November 2018 | Volume 11 | Issue 11

On Tuesday, September 18, 2018, the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, along  with other Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, honored  the 25 award recipients of the second annual Attorney  General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing. Surrounded by family, friends, colleagues, and distinguished guests, recipients were honored by DOJ  leadership and the nation. Stories of innovation, heroism, and exceptional  policing were shared as each award recipient walked across the stage. Although the  recipients represent diverse communities with different stories, they share a  commitment to public safety. These law enforcement officers represent the best  of the policing profession.
The Attorney General’s Award
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished  Service in Policing recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn  rank-and-file, non-supervisory police officers and deputies for exceptional  efforts in innovative policing strategies, criminal investigations, and field  operations that have proven effective in enforcing our laws.

The award highlights three areas: (1) Innovations  in Community Policing, (2) Field Operations, and (3) Criminal Investigations.  Within each category, at least one award is given to law enforcement agencies  serving small, medium, and large jurisdictions.

The  following sections provide a snapshot of the 25 award recipients. Their full  narratives are collected in the *Compendium of Award Recipients*and you can watch the  full video of the presentation of the Attorney  General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing*.* Some recipients’ stories are highlighted in this special issue of the *Community  Policing Dispatch*.
Innovations in  Community Policing
From maintaining school safety to fighting opioids and  addressing missing persons, the three 2018 award recipients in the category of  Innovations in Community Policing engage in significant problem-solving  activities, build productive community relationships, and implement new initiatives.
Leading By Example: Sergeant Sean Crotty 
 Little Egg Harbor (New Jersey) Sergeant1 Sean Crotty sees his responsibility as a school resource officer as not only  protecting the youth in the local high school, but helping to shape the next  generation of youth into productive community members. He developed a successful  community policing web, helping foster an entire community network of sharing,  collaborating, and helping one another. Read Sergeant Crotty’s own words in “Leading by Example: Building Relationships with Youth.”
Addressing a Crisis: Detective Michael Rastetter 
Canton (Ohio) Detective Michael Rastetter leads the Stark  Outreach Support (SOS) team to address the opioid crisis in his community.  Detective Rastetter’s compassion, professionalism, leadership, and commitment  have contributed to a nearly 60 percent reduction in opioid-related overdose  deaths in 2017. This community policing approach is recognized statewide as an  example of a successful collaboration between law enforcement and the  community.
Engaging Vulnerable Populations: Officer Laurie Reyes
Using critical problem-solving skills, Montgomery County  (Maryland) Officer Laurie Reyes developed the Autism, Intellectual  Developmental Disabilities, and Alzheimer’s Outreach Program. By focusing  proactively on this vulnerable population, Officer Reyes is saving lives and  ensuring that individuals who frequently wander are found more quickly. Her  work not only benefits Montgomery County, but is becoming nationally recognized  as a model for promoting awareness and safety through education, outreach,  follow-up, empowerment, and response.
Criminal  Investigations
The three 2018 award recipients in the category of  Criminal Investigations solved difficult cases and conducted comprehensive  investigations by using creative and collaborative investigation techniques.
Bringing Closure: Officer Megan Freer
Middleton Township (Pennsylvania) Officer Megan Freer  responded to a missing person report for a 19-year-old man that led to an  intensive investigation of missing teens in her county. The investigation led  to the discovery of the bodies of four young men buried on a farm and the  arrest on murder charges of two cousins who lived there. Her determination led  to this discovery; if not for her tremendous effort, there would have been no closure  for the families of the missing young men.
Ensuring Accountability: Detective Andrew Beuschel, Jr.
The tragic death of a 15-year-old girl of a heroin  overdose led Evesham Township (New Jersey) Detective Andrew Beuschel, Jr. to  undertake a search for the suspected dealer. Using ingenious investigation  techniques, Detective Beuschel worked with Facebook, the cellular phone  company, and the victim’s friends and family to hone in on the suspect. His  casework secured warrants for the arrest of the suspect on charges of  possession of heroin, distribution of heroin, and strict liability for the  drug-induced death of the 15-year-old victim.
Connecting the Dots: Trooper Joel D. Follmer
In July 2016, an assailant broke into a woman’s house,  assaulting, kidnapping, and raping her and leaving her in a cornfield near her  residence. Assigned to the case, Pennsylvania State Trooper Joel D. Follmer  suspected the assailant had some type of law enforcement or military training  and worked tirelessly on the case using innovative investigative techniques. After  more than18 months long, the investigation not only identified a prison guard as  the assailant, but revealed him as a serial rapist with assaults dating back to  1994. He was arrested and is now pending trial.
Field Operations
Heroic, quick, or innovative police work distinguishes the  2018 award recipients in the category of Field Operations. By responding,  partnering, problem solving, and engaging, these 19 individuals solved  community problems, cleaned up the streets, and saved lives.
Building Bridges: Sergeants Girard Tell III and Ryan VanSyckle
Since 2016, Pleasantville (New Jersey) Sergeants2 Ryan VanSyckle and Girard Tell III have consistently led the department in  arrests and drug seizures, through their dogged persistence to seek out and  dismantle criminal street gangs. Their untiring drive to remove the most  dangerous and violent offenders from the street has had a significant impact on  the criminal operating environment within the community, including a steady  downward trend of gun violence and a 55 percent decrease in confirmed shooting  calls for service. Sergeants VanSyckle and Tell combine community policing  practices with their unique ability to leverage partnerships to ensure  Pleasantville is safe from violence.
Saving Lives: Corporal Richard White III
In 2017, Ohio County (West Virginia) Corporal Richard  White III responded to a call for service regarding several people caught in  the swift and dangerous waters of Wheeling Creek. Without regard for his own  safety, he entered the heavy current repeatedly to save a 13-year-old girl and an  adult woman caught in the undertow. Corporal White’s quick and selfless action  helped save lives and exemplified true bravery.
Stopping Drug Traffickers: Deputy Ned Nemeth
Washoe County (Nevada) Deputy Ned Nemeth and his K9  partner Titus work highway interdiction; in the last year, they have dented  illegal operations along the I-80 corridor, seizing marijuana, methamphetamine,  and illegal prescription opioid pain pills. Deputy Nemeth pushes out quality  information to his regional contacts, so that jurisdictional sharing can help  curtail organized drug trafficking nationwide.
Stemming Violence: Detective Thomas Curley
Over the past 14 years, Wilmington (Delaware) Detective  Thomas Curley has made outstanding efforts in conducting criminal  investigations to protect the people of Wilmington from gangs and violent  crime, including the first successful illegal gang prosecution in the State of  Delaware, which was later upheld by the Delaware Supreme Court. Through his  ability to seek out and successfully talk with witnesses to develop leads, he  has provided much-needed justice to the victims of violent crimes.
Running into Danger: Officers Jeremiah Beason, Patrick Burke, Monty  Fetherston, and Steve Morris, Jr.
Las Vegas Metropolitan (Nevada) Officers Jeremiah Beason,  Monty Fetherston, Patrick Burke, and Steve Morris, Jr. were the first four  responders to react during the tragic shooting at a country music festival in  October 2017. These four officers rescued people, cleared the rooms surrounding  the shooter, and secured the perimeter; by running toward the danger, they  saved countless lives. Without the heroic and quick actions of these officers,  the suspect would not have been stopped. Read Officer Burke’s in “Honor and Courage:  Responding to Tragedy.”
Focusing on Quality of Life: Officers Jose Arriaga, Ruben Avalos, Carlos  Escobar, Randy Jreisat, Arthur Meza, Ashley Mitchell, David Nick, Jr., Adrian  Nuñez, Christiana Salas, and Solly Samara
The Los Angeles (California) Police Department’s MacArthur  Park Task Force Officers Jose Arriaga, Ruben Avalos, Carlos Escobar, Randy  Jreisat, Arthur Meza, Ashley Mitchell, David Nick, Jr., Adrian Nuñez, Christiana Salas, and Solly  Samara worked to restore order to the community around MacArthur Park by  applying constant law enforcement and community involvement to the area, addressing both crime and quality of life issues in the area. Their  work is directly responsible for a 40 percent reduction in Part 1 Crimes and a  46 percent reduction in violent crimes in the zone, as well as for transforming  the park and its surrounding neighborhood from its former blight to a clean,  beautiful, sprawling park.

Nazmia Comrie, Senior Program Specialist         COPS Office

Notes:         1.Crotty was promoted to sergeant after the work for which he won this award.        
2.VanSyckle and Tell were promoted to sergeant after the work for which they won  this award. 

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**Read more of the November Dispatch**
- Director’s Corner: Recognizing Law Enforcement Excellence
- Profiles of Distinguished Law Enforcement
- Honor and Courage: Responding to Tragedy
- Leading by Example: Building Relationships with Youth
- COPS Office Increases Tribal Access to Critical Crime Information with $1.5 Million in Support
- New Publications from the COPS Office
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The Community Policing Dispatch is the e-newsletter of the COPS Office. 

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