by Nic Huber – eParis Extra!
Every year, awards are given out to Paris Police Department officers during the department’s annual Christmas party, which is hosted by the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. All department staff, including sworn and un-sworn personnel, are encouraged to cast their ballots for the awards.
The usual awards are Officer of the Year, CPAAA Volunteer of the Year, and Rookie of the Year, among others. Officer Rafael Ramirez was awarded Officer of the Year by Police Chief Bob Hundley. Ramirez, a uniform patrol officer, has been with the police department for over three years.
Joe Ross, a volunteer to the department who was awarded the Volunteer of the Year award last year, received the honor again this year for his work patrolling the Trail de Paris along with other activities. Patrol officer Clifton Mitchell received the Rookie of the Year award. Mitchell has been with the police department for a little over a year and a half.
The award for Civilian Employee of the Year resulted in a tie, so Hundley awarded Kristopher Kampmann, an emergency dispatcher, and DeDe Thomas, one of the department’s evidence clerks, the honors. Both have worked at the department for over a year.
The Paris Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association was created to support and assist the Paris Police Department in special events, routine patrols, holiday patrols, and public outreach. All members are graduates of the Paris Citizens Police Academy and are members of Citizens on Patrol.