SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, JoAnn Walker with the San Francisco Police Department received the U.S. Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing for field operations.
Officer Walker was recognized for her work in field operations. She has volunteered for extensive training on hostage negotiation, crisis counseling, and suicide prevention, dedicating her own time and resources to advance her expertise and educate her colleagues in crisis service support. Thanks to her initiative and advocacy, crisis counselors are better equipped to respond to people in need, and the relationship between law enforcement and the local community has improved.
The Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing recognizes individual state, local, or tribal sworn police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in community policing. U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch attended the ceremony in Washington D.C. with Officer Walker.
Earlier this week, United States Attorney Stretch launched National Community Policing Week in the Northern District of California by visiting the training academies of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, and the San Francisco Police Department. Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch marked the occasion on Monday by traveling to Dallas, Texas, to hold a 21st Century Community Policing Youth Forum with students, officer cadets, and some athletes from the Dallas Cowboys known for their work to bring communities and law enforcement together.
As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to building stronger relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve, the Department of Justice led nearly 400 events in support of community policing efforts around the country. To further that effort, President Obama designated the week of Oct. 2-8, 2016, as Community Policing Week. The week is also an extension of the Attorney General’s 12-city Community Policing Tour that highlighted collaborative programs and policing practices designed to advance public safety, strengthen police-community relations, and foster mutual trust and respect between law enforcement and citizens. National Community Policing Week builds on President Obama’s efforts to engage with law enforcement and other members of the community to implement key recommendations from the 21st Century Policing Task Force report.
“The Department of Justice recognizes the critical importance of the relationship between local law enforcement officers and the communities they serve,” said US Attorney Stretch. “During Community Policing Week and beyond, we are committed to strengthening and promoting the collaborative programs and policing practices that are designed to strengthen such relationships. We are very proud of Officer Walker for all that she continues to do, and applaud all officers and organizations that have created and used innovative methods to promote collaborative reforms.”