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April 5, 2000
Miller receivesstate award forcommunity serviceShe views award aspositive recognition and good for rural MinnesotaBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- New Ulm Police Officer Alison Miller was recently selected to receive the Minnesota Association of Women Police (MAWP) Community Service Award. The statewide honor goes to an officer who demonstrates excellent skills in designing, implementing and/or participating in projects for the community or schools such as neighborhood watches, town meetings, crack teams, cultural groups, and other community-centered activities. Miller will officially receive the award on April 26 at the MAWP spring training conference at the Grandview Lodge in Brainerd. Miller's participation in the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program, local child safety seat specialist work, Yellow Ribbon Campaign (suicide prevention program) and the Safe and Sober program are some of the key factors in her selection for the award. Her involvement in the D.A.R.E. program began in 1992. As a child safety seat specialist, Miller checks out child car seats to make sure they are appropriate for child use. "It means a lot to me that my hard work is being recognized," said Miller, "I'm surprised to get such an award. We all go into law enforcement to help people, and this award is something positive in a time when law enforcement isn't viewed so positively at times." Miller continued, "There are departments bigger than ours that are doing community policing at a much higher scale, so it was nice to have rural Minnesota recognized." Letters were sent to all law enforcement agencies informing them of how to nominate officers for the award. "It's definitely a feather in her hat," said New Ulm Police Commander Erv Weinkauf, "She's done a lot of work especially with children in the community. I think she has a sincere desire to improve the quality of life for children in New Ulm. What she's being recognized for is going above and beyond her normal responsibilities as a police officer." Weinkauf said he was involved in helping put together the application for the award Miller received. "She has strived to improve the image of law enforcement in the community. I believe her fellow officers can look up to her for her accomplishments. I'm really happy for her," Weinkauf said.
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