St. Paul (April 3) – The Metro Transit Police Department honored 16 officers and three civilians for actions that created a safer community and transit environment at their annual Awards Ceremony this week.
This is the 18th year the Metro Transit Police Department has held an awards ceremony to recognize officers and civilians for their actions. Awards presented on Thursday were for activities that occurred in 2014.
“Safety and security are the cornerstones of what we do at Metro Transit,” Metro Transit Police Chief John Harrington said. “Our officers and those who support them have shown time and again that they are committed to creating a safe, secure and inviting environment on board our buses and trains and in the communities we serve. These awards are a small token of our appreciation for their ongoing dedication.”
Officers Daniel Wallace and Matthew Wilkinson shared the Officer of the Year award for their work as beat officers in downtown St. Paul. The officers have built strong relationships that allow them to proactively address safety issues in the downtown area. Wallace and Wilkinson began their careers at Metro Transit in 2011 as Community Service Officers.
“Wallace and Wilkinson represent the best traditions of law enforcement,” Harrington said. “Together, this strong team demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the department and to all those who live, work and use transit in downtown St. Paul.”
The Timothy Bowe Memorial Award, given to a part-time officer who displays exceptional professionalism and dedication, was presented to Officer Michael Sheady. A full-time Sergeant at the Lakeville Police Department, Sheady has served as a part-time Metro Transit police officer since 1992.
Awards were also presented to officers for their work preparing for the June 2014 opening of the METRO Green Line, expanding officer training, resolving difficult cases and developing partnerships with area homeless agencies to provide resources for individuals in need.
Over the past 20 years, the Metro Transit Police Department has grown to become one of the largest in the state. The department now has more than 200 part- and full-time officers. Transit Police are based at command centers in Minneapolis and St. Paul and serve the seven-county metro region. Officers focus on maintaining a safe transit environment and work with peer agencies to respond to all calls for service.
Customers boarded Metro Transit buses and trains more than 84.5 million times in 2014. The agency is a service of the Metropolitan Council.
Photos are available for republication on Metro Transit's Flickr page. Learn more about past award recipients here.
Contact: Howie Padilla, Metro Transit Public Relations Manager, 612-349-7089, [email protected]