Westerville Crime Prevention Officer Wins National Award

kept, all the amenities that most people look for in their community. Add to that a great parks system and so many recreational and sporting activities.

Officer Randy Bailey was recognized at the Ohio Statehouse on Thursday, May 24. State Rep. Anne Gonzales (R-Westerville) presented a House resolution to him at a session of the Ohio House

Officer Randy Bailey of the Westerville Division of Police was recently named the 2011 National Citizens Police Academy Coordinator of the Year. The recognition is the top honor in the United States for law enforcement professionals who manage volunteer police organizations.

Officer Bailey serves as a Crime Prevention Officer in the division’s Community Services Bureau. Working with members of the alumni association, he oversees recruitment, curriculum, instructor development and most every other moving part of each academy class.

“This is a well-deserved recognition for Officer Bailey,” said Westerville Police Chief Joe Morbitzer. “Members of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association donate tens of thousands of hours of volunteer service to our community each year. Randy’s leadership and support is largely responsible for their ongoing commitment and dedication. He is their mentor and their inspiration. All of our community outreach programming is dependent upon these volunteers. Without this collaboration, those programs would not be possible.”

Officer Bailey’s recognition continues a long tradition of national accolades for the Westerville Division of Police’s community outreach efforts. In 2010, the Westerville

Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association was recognized as the top police volunteer association in the United States.

But ask Officer Bailey about the award, and he is barely able to accept the praise. “It’s not just one person,” he said. “It’s the officers who instruct, it’s our Community Services section and our volunteers who donate many hours to help the Academy run smoothly.”

His humble leadership is a trait developed during a 32-year career in law enforcement, 28 years of which have been in Westerville. And it is a legacy from which we all can learn.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Westerville, and I’m a graduate of Westerville South High School. My family and I still live near Westerville.

You’ve been around Westerville for a long time. What do you see as most consistent about this community?

Total growth. Westerville went from being a small farming town to what it is now. People seem to consistently move to Westerville because they feel safe and want to raise a family in this environment. It’s nice, clean and well-

From my perspective, I also see consistency in terms of the concerns parents have for their kids. That stays the same over time. We want kids making good choices in terms of alcohol and exposure to other drugs. But what we see with kids now are potential issues related to the use of the Internet. We want to be certain that young people are being smart online now too, like avoiding solicitations and minimizing their risk of meeting Internet predators.

Texting and driving is another issue for our families. We simulate this experience for kids with SIDNE (Simulated Impaired DriviNg Experience), a modified go-kart. With the kids, we get them in the kart and tell them to text a friend in the group. Our officers are able to demonstrate how many times the driver is taking his or her eyes off the road without realizing it.

How did you get involved in law enforcement?

Growing up, I lived next door to a police officer and my uncle was also an officer. It had an influence on me early on. Out of high school, I enlisted in the Army, and was sent overseas to West Germany for three years. Vietnam was coming to an end, and I spent my time training in armored divisions. I almost made the Army a career, but I decided to use my GI Bill to get my law enforcement training certificate. After that, I started with Mifflin Township Police. Westerville was my hometown and where I wanted to work. I started with the Division in April 1984 as a patrol officer and later served as the DARE officer. The Citizens Police Academy (CPA) started in 1999, and I was selected to manage that program in 2003.

What do you recommend for young adults considering a career in law enforcement?

Education. That is always first and will take you the longest way. In today’s mar- ket, you are not going to get hired without a good education. Get a bachelor’s degree for sure, and then look into what path you want to take from there. There are a lot of theories and thoughts on what kind of degree is most recommended, but I usually recommend students consider a business degree with a minor in criminology or criminal justice. If law enforcement doesn’t work out, that business degree may help you elsewhere. There are so many avenues to take in law enforcement: computer forensics, homeland security or agencies like DEA, FBI or CIA. We also need uniformed officers in our communities. For federal jobs, go to their websites and see what kind of careers they offer and what degrees or education required.

What type of programs do you manage in your role as Crime Prevention Officer?

The Community Services Bureau is in charge of programs that encourage work and collaboration between the public and their public safety officers. We have programs for everyone, of all ages, from CPA to the little ones with Westerville Safety City. We produce special programs for older adults, like S.O.S. (Serving Our Seniors) Day, and continue with our DARE programs.

Your award was in recognition for your work with the CPA. Tell us more about that program.

The Academy happens twice a year for 13 weeks, and each class is full of citizens who want to understand more and get involved in the day-today operation of the Westerville Police Division. We have a full curriculum that is designed to put the student in the role of the police officer. We’re always hands-on, and asking the students what they want to see and learn about what we do. We put them in a variety of scenarios: conducting a building search, choosing protective gear in different situations and, of course, safety and proper handling of weapons. Our focus is to create an understanding of what it’s like to make a split-second decision.

I started with Class 11, and we’re now at Class 27 in August. And it’s a popular program; we’re almost full through 2013. If people are interested, they can learn more on the City website or come talk to us at an event.

What is your most memorable experience with the CPA?

There are so many memories, but a couple stand out. One involved an older woman, in her mid-70s, who had never shot a gun before. We always encourage students to participate in all activities, but it’s not mandatory. She wanted to try shooting, and after the experience, she was thrilled and excited in an unforgettable way. It was a reminder to me to take opportunities and appreciate being a lifetime learner. We also had the honor of having a World War II veteran in our class one year. He shared with us his stories and experience in the war, just as sharp as a tack. Having a father who served in WWII, it was a really special experience for me just to have him take part in our program. He’s now 93 years old and still involved in CPA, usually speaking to kids on Veterans Day!

What do you like to do in your time away from work?

I like to ride my Harley and work outside. Anything to keep me outdoors – cars, woodworking, sports, working around the house. I also like to be with my family; my wife of 37 years and six grandchildren, all under the age of 8. That keeps us busy.