San Diego Officer Honored

[Willowdared]

San Diego officer to receive top award

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By Kristina Davis
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
11:44 a.m. November 11, 2008
SAN DIEGO – A city police officer is one of 12 cops who will be honored Tuesday with a national Police Service Award.

Wesley Mangum, a 12-year veteran of the department's Central Division, will be recognized for his efforts to devise creative ways to solve problems in the community.

Some of his accomplishments include removing trespassers from public and private property and creating “stay away orders” for problem transients who affect the quality of life of residents in certain neighborhoods, according to Parade magazine. The publication established the annual award along with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Mangum also helped track down and arrest a transient suspected in the fatal beating and stabbing of 14-year-old Ahlyja Pinson. The crime occurred in the basement of a vacant home in Golden Hill that the officer had been in the process of closing. He helped find the transient, whose skin had been found under the victim's nails.

Mangum will accept the award Tuesday afternoon during the police chiefs association's annual conference, being held in downtown San Diego this year.

An officer from the Aurora Police Department in Illinois earned the title of Officer of the Year for his work in helping solve several cold cases.

Here's the full list of honorees

http://www.parade.com/news/2008/11/p...-the-year.html

[2 Blue 4 U]

Great to be recognized for a Job Well Done! Congratulations to those honored and all the rest who do great jobs!

[CTR man]

That's pretty neat that PARADE chose to get involved with the IACP to honor individuals such as these. I hope they continue to do so and give these fine men and women the recognition that they well deserve.

Congratulations to all of you out there who do the job day in and day out.

[Jenna]

Great job!

[Captain America]

Congratulations to all receipants.

[Willowdared]

That's pretty neat that PARADE chose to get involved with the IACP to honor individuals such as these. I hope they continue to do so and give these fine men and women the recognition that they well deserve.

Congratulations to all of you out there who do the job day in and day out.

For more than four decades, PARADE and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have recognized excellence through the annual Police Officer of the Year awards. In that time, the role of law enforcement has evolved. Today, some officers use technology to track criminals. Others rely on meticulous research and strategic planning for undercover investigations. Still others work with communities to improve schools and neighborhoods. Yet all remain united by a singular passion to serve. We salute them.