Locust Police Department issued the following announcement on Feb. 22.
At the February Locust City Council meeting the Locust Police Department honored several officers for their contributions during the 2021 calendar year.
Corporal Dwayne Dietz and Patrol Officer Josh Gardner were both recognized as Officer of the Year finalists.
Corporal Dietz was a finalist for the second straight year after being named the inaugural Chief Steven "Smitty" Smith Officer of the Year in 2020. Corporal Dietz was recognized for his enforcement contributions during the year as well as his role spearheading the effort and preparation to restart a department K9 program. Corporal Dietz has since October been K9 handler to his partner Rico and has completed numerous hours of K9 training. Corporal Dietz was honored as Officer of the Month in May and August and also received multiple citizen commendations throughout the year. Corporal Dietz was also awarded a commendation for meritorious conduct in August for his role in an at-home birth and the saving of the newborn baby's life.
Officer Gardner's statistical contributions during the year ranked him fifth overall in the department, and he displayed incredible calmness and proficiency well beyond his experience level in a July confrontation with a suicidal subject armed with a gun that resulted in the suspect's safe arrest with no injury to other officers or property. Officer Gardner also received multiple citizen commendations during 2021 for his community policing and service efforts, and he was named Officer of the Month in July. Officer Gardner was also nominated by two fellow officers as Officer of the Year.
The main honoree of the evening was 15-year Locust Police Department veteran Sergeant Brandon Stancil who was named the 2021 Chief Steven "Smitty" Smith Officer of the Year. Sergeant Stancil who is tasked with providing oversight and supervision to four department patrol officers still ranked in the top three of the department in some enforcement statistic measures and was second overall in the department in successful incident clearance. Sergeant Stancil was also named Officer of the Month one time during the year and was nominated by five fellow officers for Officer of the Year which was the most in the department. Officers who nominated Sergeant Stancil all stated how great a representative he is for law enforcement and the Locust Police Department, he was commended for his positive and motivating leadership style, and complimented for his pro-active approach to law enforcement despite being in a supervisory role.
Chief Smith's wife Melissa was on hand again at the meeting along with their son Hunter to present Sergeant Stancil with the award plaque named in "Smitty's" honor and memory.
Chief Shew added that "Sergeant Stancil has developed into an outstanding veteran leader, a mentor for younger officers, and he is a great representative and foundational member of the current Locust Police Department. He very much earned and deserved this great honor."
The Locust Police Department is so proud of the jobs that every one of our officers do in contributing to the success of our agency and the support we enjoy in the community. We are also so proud of the recognized officers for the additional contributions that they made that warranted these honors.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Locust Police Department
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