2009 Award for Administrative Excellence

Chief August Washington, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

 

The 2009 Award for Administrative Excellence is presented to August Washington, Chief of Police, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Police Department. Chief Washington has been the chief of the department for almost four years. He implemented a career development path plan for the department, decreasing turnover from an average of five per year to one per year.  The training allows the department to focus more on advanced aspects of their jobs. The communications section has been completed overhauled with cross training for the section staff.  Police officers are no longer removed from patrol to cover communications, allowing more officers on patrol and an improvement in community service. The Crime Prevention Unit has become one of the school’s primary community contacts and has established liaison programs with most major campus groups to improve services. The Unit participates in university and community development for a variety of topics. The final area of improvement was the school’s security program. The staff has been outfitted with new uniforms and marked vehicles for patrol. These Community Service Officers received training and equipment to allow them to serve the local community. The high visibility patrol of their vehicles was immediately noticed across campus with many comments being received about seeing officers “everywhere.”  Chief Washington brought a simple concept to the department with a personal vision for departmental growth. Our department motto is “Enforcement Through Cooperation” and he has lead the way for this vision.  

Chief Washington was nominated by Special Operations Captain Keith Lambert.