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2007
Ethics Achievement Award
Sergeant
Bob Decker
Houston, TX, Police Department
A
member of the Houston, TX, Police Department for
more than two decades, Sergeant Bob Decker is
the kind of law enforcement professional who inspires
and uplifts everyone around him. While on a trip
in Mexico Bob got lost - literally - in the colonias.
At the same time, though, he says he was found.
Since 2002 - on his own time - he has worked tirelessly
in support of multiple orphanages and others in
need in Mexico. He is, in fact, the founder of
Paper Houses Across the Border, Inc., a non-profit
group dedicated to the proposition that poverty
and misery know no international boundaries. A
description of the good works being performed
by Bob Decker and his organization may be found
at http://www.paperhouses.org
In
recognition of his caring and altruistic efforts
to ease the burdens of other human beings, on
March 27, 2007, Houston Police Sergeant Bob Decker
was presented with the 2007 Ethics Achievement
Award. Sergeant Decker accepted his award at a
special ceremony held during the annual Contemporary
Issues and Ethics Conference at the headquarters
of the Center for American and International Law
in Plano, Texas.
________________________________________________________
2004
NOBLE SERVICE AWARD
Brownsville,
TX, Police Department
When
a routine shoplifting call led Brownsville, TX,
police to a destitute family during the Christmas
season of 2000, officers immediately raised –
from other officers working that day on that patrol
shift – sufficient money to provide immediate
shelter, food and clothing. As one Brownsville
officer put it: “God put us there at that
moment, and we were their angels.” Once
the immediate needs of the family were attended
to, officers also made arrangements for long term
assistance through various other public service
entitites.
On October 22, 2004, at the 13th Annual International
Ethics Conference, and in recognition of their
demonstration of noble, compassionate policing,
the Brownsville, TX, Police Department was presented
with a Noble Service Award. Accepting the award
on behalf of the Brownsville Police Department
were Detective Joe Barrios and Officer Ted Torres.
2003
Ethics Achievement Award
Presented
to Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training
In
early 2000, Arizona Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST) adopted a “zero tolerance”
policy on certifying peace officers who had lied,
a stance that became known, informally, as the
POST “Integrity Wave.” Among agencies
charged with oversight or certification of peace
officers, Arizona POST has distinguished itself
through its forward-looking emphasis on character
and ethics as integral to the law enforcement
profession.
On
October 16, 2003, at the 12th Annual International
Ethics Conference, and in recognition of their
work in spotlighting the critical nature of ethics
and integrity in law enforcement, Arizona Peace
Officer Standards and Training was presented the
Ethics Achievement Award. Accepting the award
on behalf of Arizona POST was Mr. Thomas J. Hammarstrom,
Executive Director of Arizona POST.
2002
ETHICAL COURAGE AWARD WINNER
Officer
David Gebhardt
Rochester, New York, Police Department
On
January 4, 2001, Officer David Gebhardt
was the “point” person with the Rochester,
New York, Police Narcotics Team, as they entered
a home to execute a drug search warrant. He was
the first officer through the door, but in moving
toward a rear room, he tripped on electrical cords
causing his shotgun to discharge, strike and mortally
wound a 21-year old, unarmed man sitting in a
chair. After this tragic incident, and prior to
the case being presented to the Grand Jury or
completion of the Internal Affairs investigation,
Gebhardt issued a public statement. In it, he
expressed his deep sense of sorrow, and accepted
full responsibility for this accidental shooting.
His public statement, which helped reduce tensions
in the city, was applauded by the mayor and a
number of other community leaders. David Gebhardt
came face-to-face with one of the true “nightmares”
in a police career. But according to Rochester
Police Chief Robert Duffy, “his integrity,
his character and his sense of responsibility
to the profession and to his family not only helped
him endure the trauma attached to these types
of incidents, but in the end, he earned a whole
new level of respect as a person, set a new standard
for integrity and accountability on behalf of
police officers, and served as an outstanding
example for everyone in law enforcement.”
On
October 18, 2002, at the 11th Annual International
Ethics Conference, David Gebhardt accepted the
Ethical Courage Award in recognition of his willingness
to stand up for “the right thing,” and
for his unhesitating demonstration of character
and integrity.
2001
ETHICAL COURAGE AWARD WINNER
Officer Keith Batt
Pleasanton Police Department, CA
Born
in San Francisco, Keith Batt grew up in
Sebastopol, CA, before going on to Sacramento
State University where he earned a Bachelor's
Degree in Criminal Justice Administration. Upon
graduation, he decided to pursue the life-long
dream of becoming a police officer. Keith joined
the Oakland, CA, Police Department, and in November,
1999, graduated number one academically from his
Recruit Training class. When he was assigned to
Field Training, his vision of law enforcement
was badly shaken as he witnessed officers (including
his FTO) engaging in brutality, falsifying reports
and planting evidence. In his words, Batt said,
"They took everything I valued about policing,
everything I had looked forward to, and ruined
it."
Deciding
to take a stand against what he saw, Batt (a rookie
officer on probation!) reported his observations
and experiences to the Oakland PD Internal Affairs.
His allegations (later corroborated by citizens)
resulted in a supervisor being demoted, and the
filing of thirty five felony and multiple misdemeanor
counts against four Oakland Police officers. Considerable
media attention was given to the legal process
involving four rogue cops (known locally as "The
Riders"), but through it all one fact is
indisputable ... without Keith Batt's courageous
stand there would have been no investigation and
no criminal case.
Though
he was encouraged to remain, Batt resigned from
the Oakland Police Department. He was hired by
the Pleasanton, CA, PD, where Chief Timothy Neal
says "My agency is better for having Keith
Batt employed as a police officer ... all of us
in law enforcement stand a little taller because
of Keith Batt."
On
October 12, 2001, at the 10th Annual International
Ethics Conference, Keith Batt received the Ethical
Courage Award in recognition of his willingness
to stand up for "the right thing," and
for his unhesitating demonstration of character
and integrity.
2000
ETHICAL COURAGE AWARD WINNER
Mr.
Perry Dunlop
British Columbia, Canada
Over
the course of a distinguished law enforcement
career which began in 1983, Constable Perry Dunlop
worked in patrol, criminal investigations and
the drug unit for the Cornwall, Ontario, Police
Service. In recognition of his professionalism
and courage, he was on two occasions chosen Cornwall
Police Officer of the Year, once in 1987, and
again in 1991.
In
1994, though, Constable Dunlop found himself in
a very unfamiliar position, when he was charged
with illegally revealing police information to
a source outside his agency. Specifically, after
learning of a case of reported child sexual abuse
in which the alleged abuser was permitted to pay
the victim a sum of money in lieu of criminal
charges, Dunlop asked why his agency was not investigating
the case or reporting the matter - as required
- to the appropriate child protective authorities.
Despite being cautioned to stay away from the
case, Dunlop reported it to the Children's Aid
Society; an act which resulted in disciplinary
charges from his department. He was twice cleared
of any wrongdoing, and a special task force eventually
was formed to investigate allegations of widespread
child sexual abuse.
Because
of his outspoken stand against official silence
and inertia, Perry Dunlop and his family were
harassed and ostracized both in the community
and within his police agency. In July, 2000, Perry
Dunlop resigned from the Cornwall Police Service
and moved with his wife and three children to
western Canada.
On
October 13, 2000, at the 9th Annual International
Ethics Conference, Perry Dunlop received the Ethical
Courage Award in recognition of his willingness
to stand up for "the right thing," and
for his unhesitating demonstration of character
and integrity.
1999
ETHICAL COURAGE AWARD WINNER
Mr.
David Snyder
Amarillo, Texas
In
November, 1994, David Snyder, former Chief of
Police at Texas State Technical Institute in Amarillo,
Texas, got the bad news ... he was being terminated
for insubordination. He had trouble believing
it, for after an unblemished career (six as chief),
he was being fired for failing to obey an order
from his boss. But even in the midst of that difficult
time, he knew he had done the right thing, for
the "order" had been a directive for
him to stop investigating a series of criminal
matters on his campus, and to turn over all his
records.
After
his dismissal, Chief Snyder was forced to sell
his house, seek other employment, and move his
family to a new community. Eventually he sued
his former employer under the state of Texas Whistleblower
Act, and in February, 1998, he prevailed in his
suit. He was awarded a monetary settlement, though
that did not signal the end of his difficulty.
Despite his desire to remain active in the field
of law enforcement, the stress from his ordeal
has caused physical problems that make it impossible
to do so. He is now employed in the private sector.
On
October 29, 1999, at the 8th Annual Ethics Conference,
David Snyder received the Ethical Courage Award
in recognition of his willingness stand up for
"the right thing," and his unhesitating
demonstration of character and integrity.
1998
ETHICAL COURAGE AWARD WINNER
Chief
Jeffrey Harbin
Carnegie Police Department, PA
On
December 26, 1997, a 25 mile-long high-speed pursuit
ended in the small community of Carnegie, PA,
a suburb of Pittsburgh. As a Carnegie Police Officer
was taking the driver into custody, several members
of another agency swarmed the driver, and appeared
to use excessive force in restraining him. The
event was captured on the Carnegie P.D. in-car
camera. The circumstances and the video were brought
to the attention of Police Chief Jeffrey Harbin
who immediately turned the tape over to the County
Prosecutor.
After
the video was enhanced, a Grand Jury decided there
was insufficient evidence to indict for assault,
but recommended that two of the officers seen
on tape be prosecuted for lying in their reports
about the arrest. Once that report was made public,
Chief Harbin and the members of the Carnegie Police
were subjected to a barrage of harassment from
a small-but-vocal number of other police officers
in the Pittsburgh area, including some who publicly
proclaimed "You never turn in another cop."
Over time, harassment escalated to the point where
other officers on the area radio network keyed
their microphones to prevent Carnegie officers
from transmitting or receiving messages; direct
threats to the safety of officers and citizens
in Carnegie.
In
stepping forward immediately to report the apparent
use of excessive force in the arrest made in his
city, Chief Jeffrey Harbin demonstrated unimpeachable
strength of character and moral courage. On October
30, 1998, at the 7th Annual Ethics Conference,
Jeffrey Harbin accepted the inaugural Ethical
Courage Award. |
