Members of the Cincinnati Police Department will receive recognition awards from the Ohio Attorney General Nancy H. Rogers on Tuesday October 7 in Hyatt Regency Hotel Ballroom, 350 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio. Members of the Police Department will be honored for their outstanding efforts in the categories of Valor, Service, Training and Group Achievement. The award luncheon begins at noon. Recipients of this year’s honors are Valor: Police Officers Jason Horner, Regina Williams, and Scott Brians; Service: Police Specialist Linda Day; Training: Police Specialist John Rose; and Group Achievement: Police Specialists Brian Trotta and John Horn, Police Officers Ronnie Hugley, Michael Medley and Brett Stratmann, Cincinnati Police Department; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Oakley and Officer Kenneth Parker: Special Agent Joshua Bezy, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives: Lieutenant Jacquelyn Bodenhamer, Grant County Kentucky Detention Center.
VALOR: The Valor Award honors a law enforcement officer who has distinguished himself/herself above and beyond the call of duty in the performance or act of gallantry.
Police Officer Jason Horner, Police Officer Regina Williams and Police Officer Scott Brians will be recognized 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 fled and ran eastbound on Queen City Avenue. The officer gave chase, commanded the man to stop, and drew his Taser. Instead, the man 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.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE: The Service Award recognizes contributions significant to the development of Ohio law enforcement and performance during the law enforcement officer’s career.
Police Specialist Linda Day will be recognized for her long and distinguished career characterized by sensitive questioning of victims and thorough investigations of personal crimes. In her current assignment working on cold case investigations, her tenacity, dedication and meticulous attention to detail have brought several cold cases to successful conclusion. She has earned recognition as an instructor and teaches a variety of classes for recruits and veteran officers at the Police Academy and for other agencies. She works with many organizations in advocacy, education and crime prevention. She has trained professionals in the fields of child abuse and sexual abuse. Specialist Day’s expertise and dedication have greatly assisted many victims of crime during her 35 year career.
GROUP ACHIEVEMENT: The Group Achievement Award recognizes accomplishment of a specific mission which has had a significant impact within law enforcement and/or society, and which has brought positive recognition to the department.
Police Specialist Brian Trotta, Police Specialist John Horn, Police Officer Ronnie Hugley, Police Officer Michael Medley, and Police Officer Brett Stratmann will be recognized along with Assistant United States Attorneys Timothy Oakley and Kenneth L. Parker, Special Agent Joshua Bezy of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Lieutenant Jacquelyn Bodenhammer with the Grant County, Kentucky, Detention Center for their role in the extensive investigation of the illegal enterprises and violence perpetrated by the "Grimey Network." From its origins as a group of juveniles playing together in their neighborhood, the "Grimey Network" grew to be a ruthless organization intent on monopolizing criminal activity across the city. They recruited members, taxed others' criminal proceeds, and executed those they deemed disloyal or detrimental to the group’s objectives. A multi-agency task force with members of the Cincinnati Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the local Assistance U.S. Attorney's office, and the Grant County, Kentucky, Detention Center formed to track the "Grimey Network" and their criminal activities. They analyzed hundreds of hours of phone conversations, arrest records, prison money accounts, bail bond records, and items seized during investigations. They traced associations which existed for the furtherance of a criminal enterprise. The United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, returned an eleven-count indictment against nine "Grimey" members who had previous convictions which made them eligible for federal prosecution under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute. To date, eight of the nine have been arrested and pled to their charges. They received sentences ranging from 70 months to 30 years in prison. Seven homicide cases have been closed and attributed to the "Grimey Network." Additional indictments were recently handed down, and the investigation continues.
TRAINING: The Training Award recognizes an individual for competence, expertise, and the impact of his/her training activities within both the local and the law enforcement communities.
Police Specialist John Rose will be recognized because he has demonstrated his desire not only to improve his own skills through training, but also those of the entire Cincinnati Police Department. He has served in the Department since 1988. For the past two years he has been assigned to the Training Section. He holds 11 different instructor certifications in physical fitness, CPR, and various tactics and weapons. He has been a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics team for 17 years, serving in tactical operations and as an instructor. Last year Specialist Rose became a Senior Master Taser instructor, one of only twelve in the country. He has taught over 150 Taser classes throughout the country. He has written articles accepted for publication in Police Magazine and The Tactical Edge.
