Takoma Park Police Department 2012 Officer of the Year and Civilian of the Year Announced - News Release

NEWS RELEASE

City of Takoma Park Police Department

• 7500 Maple Avenue • Takoma Park, Md 20912



For more information contact:

Public Information Officer (PIO)

Catherine Plevy, 301/891.7142 or 240/338.2901



April 12, 2012 (1:47 p.m.)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Chief Alan M. Goldberg announces today the officer and civilian who have won 2012 awards.



The 2012 Officer of the Year is Detective Private First Class Michal Godlewski.

D/Pfc. Godlewski’s work and actions have contributed significantly to the department’s visions and goals through his extraordinary efforts in the accomplishment of extremely difficult police work requiring skills and intelligence. He has demonstrated outstanding performance by showing initiative, perseverance and dedication to duty in highly credible police work.

D/Pfc. Godlewski took the Oath of Office with the Takoma Park Police Department on July 7, 2008. During his field training, D/Pfc. Godlewski’s willingness to learn, desire to perform his duties and his positive attitude have been more than impressive.

After successfully completing his field training, D/Pfc. Godlewski continued to excel in his dedication to duty, professionalism and determination. D/Pfc. Godlewski was involved in approximately 46 arrests varying from Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) arrests to domestic violence arrests; sometimes involving more than one arrest in one day on several occasions. During 2012, he had two separate incidents; one was a traffic stop, where handguns were recovered. He recovered PCP, Marijuana and Cocaine with one stop retrieving over 57 small baggies with Cocaine residue, and another involving the seizure of 287 grams of Heroin.

D/Pfc. Godlewski’s contributions to the department and community through his enforcement activities and no-nonsense police style have stood out during 2012. He is a team player and has assisted the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) on numerous occasions from providing prints of value that he had taken from more than one burglary scene, to the use of his stops for investigative purposes. He provides invaluable intelligence to CID, which is utilized by all the detectives assigned to the division. He ensures that his stops are documented through field interview reports and associated photographs. D/Pfc. Godlewski became an invaluable source of information during investigations conducted by members of CID. On April 7, 2013, D/Pfc. Godlewski was selected to join the Special Assignment Team (SAT) in the department’s investigative unit.

D/Pfc. Godlewski is an excellent asset to the Takoma Park Police Department and to the citizens he serves. His teamwork, persistence and efforts to take felons off the streets, and to ensure the safety of others, are outstanding.

We also congratulate our Civilian of the Year, Angelina Cannatella, who is instrumental in the department’s Safe Speed Program.

Ms. Cannatella joined the Takoma Park Police Department in February 1999. Ms. Cannatella is an asset not only to the Safe Speed Program, but the department as a whole. She embodies the word "teamwork" and is a huge supporter of officer safety. She is always willing to accept additional tasks. Ms. Cannatella’s positive attitude fosters team building in the department, and she provides the highest customer service. Ms. Cannatella contributes significantly to the department’s visions and goals through her extraordinary efforts, outstanding performance and dedication to duty.

Congratulations to D/Pfc. Godlewski and Ms. Cannatella!

There are also a myriad of Memorandum of Commendations, Command Recognitions, Letters of Recognition and Educational Achievements that will be given out to civilian and sworn personnel for their great work during 2012 at the Takoma Park Police Awards Banquet, which is being held on Friday, June 7, 2013.

Congratulations to all of the award recipients!