The Rotary Club of Cincinnati will host the annual Police Recognition Day Thursday August 9 during their meeting in the Oak Room of the Cincinnati Club, 30 Garfield Place. The Rotarians will welcome Police Chief Thomas H. Streicher, Jr., who will introduce members of the Police Department to be honored for their outstanding efforts in the categories of Valor/Hero, Career Enhancement, Superior Achievement and Administrative Excellence. The meeting begins with lunch at noon, and presentation of awards will begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. Recipients of this year’s honors are Valor/Hero: Police Officer Jason Horner, Police Officer Regina Williams and Police Officer Scott Brians; Career Enhancement: Sergeant Eric Vogelpohl; Superior Achievement: Police Officer Timothy Pappas; and Administrative Excellence: Sergeant Thomas Waller.
Rotary International is a worldwide network of 1.2 million business and professional people united under the motto “Service Above Self” and dedicated to humanitarian service for the advancement of understanding, good will and peace. The Rotary Club of Cincinnati was founded in 1910, and its membership of more that 400 community leaders places it among the top ten clubs in the world. For more information about the Rotary Club of Cincinnati, contact them at 421-1080.
Police Officer Jason Horner, Police Officer Regina Williams and Police Officer Scott Brians will be honored for their actions May 27, 2007. Officer Horner responded to a convenience store for a theft report, and while he was at the store the clerk pointed out the suspect who had returned. As Officer Horner began to pat down the suspect, the man bolted from him and ran eastbound on Queen City Avenue. The officer gave chase, commanded the man to stop, and drew his taser. The man did not obey the officer. Instead, he pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired one shot at Officer Horner. The officer then transitioned to his firearm and tried to maintain cover while he continued to pursue the suspect on foot. The suspect tried to fire another round at Officer Horner, but his gun malfunctioned. Officer Horner fired and struck the suspect, who continued to run. Officer Williams arrived to assist, and as the suspect ran by her vehicle he fired at her. She dropped to the ground to take cover, and then she and Officer Horner continued to pursue the subject. Officer Brians then engaged the subject and neutralized his threat. These three officers displayed selfless heroism under fire.
Sergeant Eric Vogelpohl will be recognized for his continued efforts to enhance his police career through training and teaching. He is a true leader to whom subordinates and peers look for guidance and advice. He has developed his skills with an impressive list of accomplishments that include being a Field Training Officer, Certified Mountain Bike Officer, SWAT team tactical member and team leader, and a member of the FBI Task Force. His positive attitude and willingness to get involved make him an outstanding street officer and supervisor who strives for excellence in every endeavor. Since early 2007 when Sergeant Vogelpohl was tasked with assisting in establishing Vortex to address street crime in all five Districts, he has successfully motivated his unit to help reduce crime. Sergeant Vogelpohl’s level of motivation and willingness to train others serve as an example for subordinates.
Police Officer Timothy Pappas will be honored because he consistently exhibits outstanding performance in his duties as a canine officer, in other aspects of his professional duties, and in activities outside the job. He is an exceptional canine handler who recently placed second in the regional competition on the United States Police Canine Association. In addition to their tracks, finds and arrests on the job, he and his partner volunteer for many public demonstrations to share with citizens the ways that canines are utilized in police work. He is a proactive officer, active in traffic enforcement and always ready to cover over radio runs in the districts. He is a member of the SWAT team and was instrumental in integrating canine teams into SWAT. Officer Pappas is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He aids fellow officers in times of crisis by serving on the Peer Support team. Off duty, he volunteers with his church and at a local nursing home. He has helped to build homes with Habitat for Humanity. Officer Pappas was chosen for this recognition because of his professional excellence that he combines with impressive energy and capacity to help others.
Sergeant Thomas Waller will be honored for his administrative work in the Background Investigation Unit. His dedication to the Cincinnati Police Department spans nearly four decades and has not wavered. At his suggestion, the duties of investigating the backgrounds of candidates for police recruit, dispatcher, and 911 operator were split from those of recruiting, so that each of the two units could devote more time to its respective tasks. He has worked to improve the appearance of the facilities at 800 Evans Street, creating a wall of honor with likenesses of officers who have fallen in the line of duty, and also overseeing the landscaping of the grounds. He even tends the flower beds on his own time! He always “sells” the department when he meets someone who appears to be a good candidate for becoming a police officer, encouraging that person to apply. He helped to create, and is active in the operation of, a police museum which honors police officers in the Greater Cincinnati area. Every decision and action he takes is with the best interests of the department in mind.
