Conwill named Officer of the Year
Before council launched into a marathon four-hour meeting, Wooster Police Chief Matt Fisher announced the recipient of the department’s 2011 Officer of the Year award.
“We had three people nominated – all very good candidates for this award. Those candidates were Officer Ken Linz, Detective Bill Belcher and Sergeant Kris Conwill,” Fisher told the standing room only crowd.
“In talking with Captain John Quicci, this is the first time that either of us has ever seen a nomination like this in that four patrol officers wrote this for their sergeant,” said Fisher as he read the letter of nomination written by Patrolman Matt Simon, Patrolman Quinn McConnell, Patrolman Jason Waddell and Patrolman Brandon Heim.
“Throughout the year of 2011 Sgt. Conwill has supervised this patrol shift admirably,” Fisher read from the letter.
“His patrol shift has led the way statistically in all categories of productivity within the Wooster Police Department and he should be commended for this,” the officers wrote.
The four patrolmen noted that “Sgt. Conwill has helped to motivate every officer under his supervision to become more proactive and aggressive, especially in the areas of traffic enforcement and drug enforcement.
“He was able to assist officers who previously had under-average statistics by traffic enforcement by setting personal goals and shift standards,” they wrote, adding that Conwill also “led by example in this endeavor as he maintained his own statistics throughout the year while performing many other supervisor related duties.”
The officers also noted Conwill’s dedication to the department as a whole, adding that he “routinely…takes on duties that often go unnoticed within this agency.
“He frequently volunteers his personal time for duties that are not asked of him, such as heading committees, special projects and researching department issues,” the nomination letter read.
“For example, he has tasked himself with researching the possibility of purchasing new police vehicles. He has spent countless hours of his own time speaking with representatives and evaluating equipment to find the most effective and reliable vehicle to assist the department,” the officers said.
They spoke of the intangible qualities that make Conwill an effective leader, noting that their sergeant “is a quality leader that commands the respect of his subordinates.”
The officers also praised his skills as an officer.
“He has demonstrated his vast knowledge in the areas of the Ohio Revised Code and the department’s policies,” said the officers, noting, “he seldom is unable to answer a question posed to him that refers to these areas.”
The four patrol officers also commented on Conwill’s steady leadership in times of emergency.
“He has demonstrated the ability to manage difficult and emergency related incidents effectively many times,” said the officers, adding, “in doing this his shift has come to believe in and trust his actions.”
The officers concluded their letter of nomination by saying, “Sgt. Conwill is a great leader for this agency.
“His importance to the Wooster Police Department and the citizens of Wooster, Ohio is immeasurable. It is for these reasons and many more that Sgt. Conwill should be the Officer of the Year for 2011.”
To learn more about the work of the Wooster Police Department, log on to the city of Wooster website at http://www.woosteroh.com.
Published: January 25, 2012
