By Danielle Coots

For the News-Current

BEAVERCREEK –Ohio State Representative Rick Perales presented the Beavercreek Police Department and the COPPs with recognition of excellence regarding the outstanding accreditation for law enforcement for 2016.

“Given the events at Ohio State recently, it makes us very mindful of how important our police department is. Nobody in the region has a better police department than Beavercreek,” Perales said during his presentation at the past city council meeting that was temporarily being held at Senior Center.

This is a recognition that the police department has earned annually since 1999. Only 5% of the police agencies in the country win this award and less than 2% of those do it with excellence, like the Beavercreek Police Department has. Rigorous standards determine the eligibility.

“We already knew we had a great police department and tremendous leadership in our chief, but this just verifies that,” Perales said. “I’m a citizen of this community and I really appreciate it.”

“Upon behalf of the men and women of the police department, we thank you Rick for this honor. But, this is because of a partnership that we have with the community and our residents, city council and all the departments within the city, we are not successful by ourselves. It’s because of the collaborative we have with these organizations and individuals that allows us to keep our community safe,” Beavercreek Police Department Chief Dennis Evers said.

Recognition didn’t stop with the police department. Perales also presented recognition to the

Citizen of Preventative Patrol (COPP) for their hard work in the community. The award was actual from 2015 from the Beavercreek Chambers of Commence but Perales wanted to present it to the COPP at the same time as the police department.

“Thank you to all our COPP volunteers. We appreciate them all,” Perales said.

Danielle Coots | News-Current State Representative Rick Perales presented Beavercreek Police Chief Dennis Evers with award of excellence.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2016/12/web1_Police.jpgDanielle Coots | News-Current State Representative Rick Perales presented Beavercreek Police Chief Dennis Evers with award of excellence.

Danielle Coots is a freelance writer for Greene County News.