Officers Recognized for Dedication, Professionalism
Campus security officer Karen Grover received a chief’s award for dedicated service at the UMass Lowell Police Department’s annual awards ceremony.
01/14/2013
By Jill Gambon
Eleven members of the University’s police force were recognized for dedication, professionalism and service at the department’s third annual awards ceremony.
Established in 2011, the awards honor outstanding work among the University’s police professionals.
“What was special to me about this year’s awards program is that we are clearly seeing the impact of hiring highly trained, experienced professionals,” says UMass Lowell Police Chief Randy Brashears. “The investigative successes speak to their dedication. They are making a difference on campus and in the community.”
Receiving awards for dedicated service were campus security officers Dan McPhillips and Karen Grover and police officers Sean Donovan and Bert Melendez. Detectives Mark Schaaf, Scott Childs, John Boles and Mike Soucy were honored with the Chief’s Award for Investigations. Sgt. Steve Eramo and Deputy Chief Ron Dickerson received the awards for excellence in administration and Officer Joe Brown earned honors for community policing.
And new this year, the Office of Residence Life handed out awards to Eramo and Brown for their work with the resident community.
Brashears announced that Boles is being promoted to the rank of sergeant, assigned to the department’s patrol division.
Chancellor Marty Meehan addressed the officers as did the Rev. Frederick Williams, the police department chaplain. Campus minister Chris James sang the national anthem.
“He stole the show with his singing,” says Brashears.