RPD Officer Named American Legion's Officer of the Year

On Friday, June 11, the American Legion Department of North Carolina presented Senior Officer S.P. Womack with its 2010 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award at a ceremony held at the North Raleigh Hilton during the organization’s annual statewide convention.

Each year, the American Legion Department of North Carolina selects a Law Enforcement Officer of the Year recipient from nominations received from posts throughout the state. Womack was nominated for the award by Raleigh’s American Legion Swift Creek Post 530 because of his achievements in the arena of professional development and community involvement, which include a number of initiatives he created within the Northwest District during his current assignment as the district’s crime prevention officer.

In addition to creating a network of retail loss prevention professionals in the district and developing a training program designed to improve security at houses of worship, Womack also helped stop a series of thefts from a local ice manufacturer involving a hazardous chemical used to make methamphetamine.

As the North Carolina honoree for Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Womack was also entered into the running for the national Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. After being selected as one of five regional finalists for the award, Womack recently received notification that he was selected as the national award winner. He will travel to the American Legion’s national convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the end of August for the award presentation.

Womack, has been with the RPD in September 2004. He served as a patrol officer in the Northwest District for several years before being selected in March 2009 to serve as the district’s crime prevention officer.