WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney David J. Freed joined Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Justice Department leadership today in announcing the recipients of the Second Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 25 law enforcement officers and deputies from 12 jurisdictions across the country.
“The Trump Administration supports law enforcement at all levels-and we always will," said Attorney General Sessions. “Today’s awards honor the incredible work that is being done across this country every day. This Department of Justice takes pride in announcing today’s winners of the Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Policing."
“Attorney General Sessions understands very clearly that 85% of law enforcement resources in the United States are state and local," said U.S. Attorney Freed. “In the Middle District of Pennsylvania, we enjoy true partnership with our colleagues in the Pennsylvania State Police. Trooper Follmer’s dogged dedication and determination to see justice done in this investigation is indicative of the high level of training and professionalism throughout his organization. We congratulate Trooper Follmer and the Pennsylvania State Police for the well-deserved recognition from the Attorney General."
The Justice Department has been committed to supporting law enforcement and continues to back the “women and men in blue," as directed by President Trump’s February 2017 Executive Order. The Department has recently awarded grants to assist law enforcement and first responders who supported mass shootings in Las Vegas, Nevada, Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas. In addition, the Department has helped police departments across America to hire hundreds more police officers through the COPS grant program.
The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and tribal sworn rank-and-file police officers and deputies for exceptional efforts in policing. The awarded officers and deputies have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing. The Department received 207 nominations for 469 individuals ranging from state police departments, to local police, to campus public safety agencies. This award highlights the work that officers and deputies do to prevent, intervene in, and respond to crime and public safety issues.
The individual recognized by the Attorney General today includes Pennsylvania State Trooper Joel D. Follmer for his determined efforts and innovative policing techniques on an 18-month series of kidnapping and rape investigations throughout Pennsylvania that led to the arrest of a serial rapist with assaults dating back as far as 1994. Trooper Follmer arrested the suspect in December of last year, who immediately confessed to several cases, and provided information on many others that he had attempted in the past and was planning in the future. The suspect is currently awaiting trial.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
