Groton Officer Wins National Community Policing Award

GROTON, CT — A Groton police officer has received a national award for her work with the agency.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the recipients of the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, recognizing the exceptional work of 19 law enforcement officers and deputies from 15 jurisdictions across the country.

Officer Heather McClelland of the Groton Police Department was one of the winners.

"Officer Heather McClelland is a believer in creative police work," the Department of Justice document reads. "She initiated a police therapy dog program, where a police officer partners with a therapy dog to assist members of the public. She and her therapy dog, Chase, provide support to community members and fellow officers as well as jurisdictions outside of Connecticut that have asked for her help. Since its inception in August 2019, the program has paid major dividends to the community, law enforcement, and other first responders, as well as other jurisdictions.

"Officer McClelland organizes and runs in the Groton portion of the Special Olympics Torch Run. She has also organized and helped with other community events such as the Safe Futures Toy Drive, a United Way Food Distribution Drive, the Special Olympics 'Penguin Plunge,' a drug takeback day, and meet-and greet events at area businesses, along with Chase. McClelland also organized the Cops and Comfort Dogs Symposium in Groton, which brought law enforcement and their numerous comfort dogs together from other states to learn more about the program and discover ways to take it to their own communities."

The award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn rank-and-file officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. This year, the department received nominations for almost 200 individual officers, deputies, and troopers. Nominations came from 49 states, representing state, local, campus, sheriff, and other agency types, according to a statement.

A list of award winners can be found here. Complete information on the Sixth Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing can be found here.