ARLINGTON — No one arrested more bad guys and took more drugs off the street in Arlington in 2007 than police officer Molly Ingram.
Her success was recognized recently at the police department’s annual meeting, where she was named Arlington Police Employee of the Year. It also was a time to cheer the department’s achievements and honor other outstanding officers, Police Chief John Gray said.
Ingram, 32, has an enthusiasm for community police work that is contagious and has helped motivate her peers, he said. Colleagues say criminals on her watch list start running when they see her.
“The Employee of the Year is not about popularity,” Gray said. “It is about earning trust and respect and serving our teammates and the public.”
Arlington police responded to nearly 23,500 calls in 2007. Crime fell during the year about 27 percent, he said.
Officers recovered nearly half the property reported stolen and solved about one in three crimes, an increase from the prior year and significantly above the state average.
“This was not an accident. It was a result of deliberate actions, focus and consistent effort,” Gray said.
No officer responded to more calls than officer Mike Phillips, 33, who received the chief’s special award.
Phillips answered about 1,700 calls, nearly twice the department’s average.
Lt. Terry Quintrall, 39, was given a special award for leadership and officer Ronnie Johnstone, 35, received the proactive policing award.
This year, Gray plans to hire more police officers, enhance the department with new technology and reorganize the staff to add sergeants.
The department’s commitment, energy, innovation and creativity is inspiring, the chief said.
“In my 30 years of policing this is the finest organization that I have had the pleasure to serve,” Gray said.
Reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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