Meet Greenbelt's Officer of the Year

Chief James Craze honored three of Greenbelt's finest at City Council's regular meeting Monday. The trio had also been singled out for awards at the recent 2012 Chief's Award Ceremony for Prince George's County.

Chief Craze honored Gordon Rose as an award-winner:

Master Police Officer Gordon Rose
Officer of the Year

Officer Gordon Rose's efforts on the statewide license plate reader program prompted Gov. Martin O'Malley to hold a press conference in Greenbelt, MD, to kick off the statewide program, according to Craze.

Greenbelt became the first municipality to join the statewide license plate reader program, Craze said. Immediate identification of stolen automobiles and wanted persons are the mainstay of the license plate reader program—in addition to creating a record of every vehicle that passes by, according to Craze.

Rose's second endeavor was to obtain and install a LoJack system that pinpoints stolen audios by radio signal. Craze told City Council that days after this system was activated, several cars were located.

Rose's latest project was to secure a state grant to equip 20 cruisers with electronic citation technology. According to Craze, this allows officers to transmit citation data directly from their cruisers to the MVA, saving time and finances.

Craze said Gordon represents a new and exciting change in the way business is being conducted through intelligence-lead policing.

"We often hear of this new generation of cops aren't what they used to be. That's true and that's a good thing," Craze said, "That's progress."

Craze Also Recognized:

Communications Specialist

Corporal