Law Day Awards Presented at May Luncheon
DBA members enjoy lunch before the Law Day Awards are presented
Law Day poster and essay contest winners were honored at the May luncheon, along with Liberty Bell Award recipient Darryl Jennings, Officer of the Year Richard LePage, and two Outstanding Service Award winners, Officer Christopher Mack and Detective Patrick Apoian.
Poster and Essay Contest Winners
4th grade poster – Thomas Gray, Rainbow Elementary (teacher: Amanda Miller)
5th grade poster – Jovanni Prather, Fairington Elementary (teacher: Eric Knowles)
7th grade essay – Brittany Moore, Champion Theme Middle School (teacher: Keinya Dorsett)
Liberty Bell Award
The Liberty Bell Award is given to a non-lawyer in our community who encourages community members to respect the laws and legal system and to learn more about and take an active role in American justice. This year’s Liberty Bell Award recipient, Darryl Jennings, was present with his wife and pastor to receive the award. Darryl, a staunch community advocate, has encouraged other community members to get involved with their local government and become active on local committees. He is the president of the Gresham Park neighborhood association, a special appointee to a number of boards and commissions and an active member of his church. He has also encouraged a number of people to run for office and provided them with grassroots support.
Officer of the Year
This year’s Officer of the Year Award recipient is Officer Richard LePage of the DeKalb County Police Department. Each year the award is given for outstanding achievement by a police officer who brings credit to the department and performs his duties well above and beyond basic requirements. Criteria include attendance, productivity, letter(s) of merit, organizational commitment, sustained community involvement, judgment, decisiveness, sensitivity and leadership. Nominees perform outstanding police work that helps improve quality of life in the communities they serve while supporting and furthering the ideals and values of the police department. Officer LePage met, and exceeded, the award’s criteria.
Outstanding Service Awards
Two outstanding officers, Officer Christopher Mack (DKPD) and Detective Patrick Apoian (APD-DeKalb), received this award for their outstanding service to DeKalb County.
Officer Mack was nominated for his motivation, dedication, and overall love of serving as a DeKalb County law enforcement officer. He is a role model and teacher to many other officers involved in DUI enforcement, designing a Power Point presentation and conducting departmental training to ensure that officers are well prepared to handle traffic stops on impaired drivers. Officer Mack has a reputation for being prompt to court and always prepared. Although young in years, he shows maturity in his work ethic. He seems eager to learn everything he can to do his job more efficiently. He is a member of the Tactical Response Team.
Detective Patrick Apoian of the Atlanta Police Department is assigned to Zone 6 Atlanta- Kirkwood, in DeKalb County. He has patrolled the area and made an impact there for almost 10 years, as a beat cop, a detective, a private security professional for the local neighborhood watch, a volunteer around the community (e.g., playing Santa Claus and giving advice/assistance to neighborhood crime watch programs), as a speaker and presenter at neighborhood organization meetings and an official and unofficial liaison between the police department and community. Detective Apoian is tireless in his law enforcement duties and community involvement. He treats all (including his arrestees) with respect and dignity. He puts a professional and reassuring face on community law enforcement.