May 14, 2009

Charlotte, NC -- Fifteen officers with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department were honored at the 30th Annual Police Community Relations Awards sponsored by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee on Thursday, May 14 at 7 p.m. in the Palmer Building, 2601 E. 7th Street in Charlotte. Police Chief Rodney Monroe was the guest speaker.

The annual event is a feature of Charlotte's Law Enforcement Week celebration. The award recognizes officers and work teams from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for building positive, problem-solving relationships with individual citizens and neighborhood groups.

Nominations were received from citizens in patrol areas, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools personnel, along with groups and individuals who nominated officers in their service area. This year, 332 officers from throughout the community were nominated. Members of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee reviewed the nominations and selected 26 semi-finalists to be interviewed.

The 15 finalist include:

• Officer Jason D. Armstrong - University City Division
• Officer Donna Burgess - Steele Creek Division
• Officer Michael Cucinella - South Division
• Officer Wesley P. Froneberger III - Metro Division
• Officer Rosalyn Harrington - University City Division
• Sergeant Jim Morrison - University City Division
• Officer David Hudson - Metro Division
• Officer Cynthia Johnson - University City Division
• Officer Jeffrey Hunter - Independence Division
• Officer Ray Hughes - Freedom Drive Division/W. Mecklenburg High resource officer
• Officer William Haynes - Freedom Drive Division/ W. Mecklenburg High resource officer
• Officers Veronica Brown and Officer Christopher P. Eubanks Work Team - Metro Division
• Officers William Irby and Officer Carrie Stillman Work Team - Central Division

During the past 29 years, Charlotte Mecklenburg community members have nominated more than 2,200 officers.