Arrestee Nominates Newark Police Officer for 'Community Hero' Award

By AUTUMN JOHNSON

A Newark Police officer was honored last week after an arrestee, who says the officer had a “big impact” on his life, nominated him for his advice and professionalism.

During a ceremony held on May 28, Officer Aaron Slater was given the award for Community Hero of Assembly District 25 by Assembly member Kansen Chu’s office, according to a Nixle Alert issued by Newark Police.

According to the alert, Slater gave an arrestee advice that changed his life, prompting the person to write the letter.

In it he wrote, “You may not remember me much but I remember you. Your words stuck with me and I changed a lot. I’m not too good with words but basically I wanted to say thank you, you were a BIG impact in my life. You helped me become a better person maybe without you even knowing.”

Slater said, “This award is obviously a great honor for me. This is something that doesn’t come along in many people’s careers, actually. It was terrific to receive this.”

Slater says he has the letter from the person he arrested, who nominated him.

“It was a wonderful letter for me,” Slater said. “I will never forget the letter for the rest of my life and it’s really attestation to the integrity and professionalism I use every day in this line of work and I really pride myself on the relationship-building that I have done in the Newark community for nine years. It’s great to see something like this happen and it’s significant that this award comes to me now because as most of us know, if you turn on the news or read the paper, it is a tough time to be a police officer... So that it has come at such a time is icing on the cake for me.”

Newark Police Chief James Leal said Slater has been a Newark officer since 2006.

“I’m extremely proud and honored that he was recognized by Assembly Member Chu as a Hometown Hero,” Leal commented. “Aaron has always had a passion for working with youth and assisting families in crisis. One of the things I’ve always admired about the way he does his job is that he believes strongly in changing behaviors in people by helping them recognize what they are doing wrong and what they need to do to get back on the right path.”

Photo of Officer Aaron Slater courtesy Newark Police Nixle Alerts

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