2023-2024 Annual Award Recipients

The Award for Administrative Excellence is presented to an IACLEA institutional member for outstanding service in areas such as policy and planning, investigations, and/or crime prevention.  

This year’s Award for Administrative Excellence is presented to Chief Ryan Colman for his leadership in transforming and improving the Public Safety Department at Washington College.   

Upon joining Washington College, Chief Ryan Colman swiftly revamped the department, introducing new uniforms, vehicles, and community policing standards. He prioritized officer training, ensuring compliance with Crisis Intervention Team protocols and offering additional development opportunities. Salary improvements enhanced recruitment and retention. Ryan's proactive engagement with stakeholders improved departmental trust and campus morale. His competent leadership earned administration confidence and boosted departmental morale. The campus community now trusts in their enhanced public safety under Ryan's leadership.

The IACLEA Award for Innovations in Community Oriented Policing is presented to an IACLEA institutional member for outstanding service and initiative supporting the effective promotion of the Community Oriented Policing philosophy.   
  
This year’s Award for Innovations in Community Oriented Policing is presented to Corporal John Tarter of the Virginia Tech Police Department.  
  
Corporal Tarter is a dedicated advocate for community policing at Virginia Tech. Through his innovative programs, he has strengthened ties between law enforcement and students. One standout initiative is bringing Ringo, a miniature horse, to campus, fostering positive interactions and important conversations. Tarter also spearheads the annual VTPD Hotdog Sale, raising funds for Special Olympics and expanding its reach each year. Additionally, he oversees the Residence Life Resource Officers, nurturing relationships with Residential Well-Being and integrating community policing into new officers' training. Tarter's relentless dedication has made him a cornerstone of the Virginia Tech community, recognized for his vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment to enhancing campus safety through community engagement.

The IACLEA Award for Merit is presented to an IACLEA institutional member who each day displays professionalism and excellence in performing his/her duties or whose actions and attitude bring credit to the campus law enforcement community.   
  
This year’s Award for Merit is presented to Debbie Pope, Clery Compliance Analyst at the University of Central Florida.  
 
Debbie plays a crucial role at UCF, ensuring Clery Act compliance through various initiatives. She collaborated with ethics and compliance offices to evaluate 15,671 job positions, identifying 2,615 Campus Security Authorities (CSAs) and providing tailored training. Leading a university-wide committee, she ensures ongoing communication, training, and discussion to prevent compliance issues. Debbie's contributions include creating the annual safety guide, developing a Clery geography map, and facilitating trainings for various campus entities. Certified as a Clery Compliance Officer, her dedication and warm demeanor make her an invaluable asset to UCF.  

The IACLEA Award for Valor is presented to an IACLEA institutional member for an act or acts involving life-threatening risk while acting in the line of duty.   
  
This year’s Award for Valor is presented to Detective Nathaniel Drum and Police Officer Damien Garcia of University Police Services at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  
  
At 11:44 AM on December 6, 2023, University Police Services dispatch received reports of an unknown “trouble” call at the Frank and Estella Beam Hall on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Within 78 seconds of the initial call, the first officer arrived at the scene and reported “shots fired”. Within minutes additional officers from UPD and partner law enforcement agencies quickly mobilized to enter the building in an effort to locate the threat and evacuate the students, faculty and staff within the building.  

Detective Nathaniel Drum and Officer Damian Garcia responded to the UNLV incident, entering Beam Hall despite lacking a specific suspect description. They encountered a suspicious individual exiting the building towards a crowded plaza of students. Sensing something strange about the individual’s behavior, Drum and Garcia confronted him. Immediately and without warning, the male subject turned towards Drum, presented a firearm and proceeded to fire at them. Detective Drum sought cover behind a patrol vehicle while The subject continued to advance on Detective Drum and they engaged in an exchange of gunfire, with Officer Garcia firing from a flanked position. Their swift actions neutralized the threat in just 12 seconds, preventing further casualties. 

The keen insights and intuitive responses demonstrated by Detective Drum and Officer Garcia helped mitigate a potential catastrophe at UNLV. Despite the tragic loss of three university faculty members at the hands of the gunman, with another seriously wounded, Drum and Garcia's quick thinking and decisive actions undoubtedly averted additional loss of life, exemplifying heroism amidst danger.

Photo credit: © Mike Ritter 2024