The Arlington Police Department has recently taken a moment to celebrate the extraordinary efforts of its employees, volunteers, and community partners who distinguished themselves throughout 2024. Recognitions were presented during the department's Annual Awards Ceremony, lauding the contributions across 16 categories encompassing a range of services from aiding sexual assault survivors to solving crimes and enhancing employee well-being.
Held this week, the ceremony highlighted the work of more than 85 nominees and ultimately celebrated various key players in the Arlington community. The Women's Center of Tarrant County received the Business Partnership Award for their significant contributions, while Dr. Jaya Davis was acknowledged with the Citizens Community Award for her work with the UTA Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Celebrated, the community efforts, in particular, were Detective Stephen Lawson and Crime Scene Investigator Jason Fernandes for their roles in community engagement and technical services respectively, according to the City of Arlington.
Noteworthy among the law enforcement distinctions are Detective Jesse Lathrop, who was named Detective of the Year, and Officer Colin Radford, who received the Investigative & Tactical Officer of the Year award. Rookie accolades were given to Officer Kaleb Ruiz, while the seasoned touch of Sergeant Grant Gildon earned him the Sworn Supervisor of the Year.
The ceremony played host as well to the announcement of the Overall Employees of the Year—a distinguished honor which befell Detective Nathan Bishop and Detective Frank King, who were honored for their investigative victories in high-stakes scenarios. "We truly have the best police department in the country – and I mean the best," Chief of Police Al Jones proclaimed with a deep sense of pride, "And it's because of the outstanding public servants that work for this department. Celebrating the hard work, contributions, and service of these employees is the highlight of my year," he told the Arlington government's official website.
