Respect. Honor. Remember.



 June 2007:
Detective II John O'Toole, Los Angeles Police Department

May 2007:
Detective Bryan McMahon, Lowell (MA) Police Department

April 2007:
Master Officer Ken Hammond, Ogden City (UT) Police Department

  

OFFICER OF THE MONTH - JUNE 1997

OFFICER JAMES L. MARTIN
SEYMOUR (CT) POLICE DEPARTMENT

 November 2008:
Officer Justin Bowman, Chesapeake (VA) Police Department and Officer Brandon Bowman,Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department

October 2008:
Senior Officer Specialist Melissa Foy, Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

September 2008:
Detective Thomas McHale, New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police Department (PAPD)

August 2008:
Detective Sergeant John Jedrejczyk, City of Passaic (NJ) Police Department

July 2008:
Detective Eric M. Kovanda, Bloomfield (CT) Police Department

June 2008:
Officer III Andrew Taylor, Los Angeles Police Department

May 2008:
Sergeant Travis Ash, Baker County (OR) and Sr. Trooper Christopher M. Hawkins, Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife

April 2008:
Officers Christopher Timms and Krzysztof Gesla, Baltimore (MD) Police Department

March 2008:
Officer Brian Bobick, DC Metropolitan Police Department

February 2008:
Officers Derrick Dottin, Alex Capobianco, Steven St. Hilaire, Somerville (MA) Police Department

January 2008:
Officer Benjamin Henrich, City of Prescott (WI) Police Department

December 2007:
Sergeant Stephanie Jackson, Tulsa (OK) Police Department

November 2007:
Special Agents Donovan Williams and Kendall Beels, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security

October 2007:
Detective Michael J. Madonna, Oakland (NJ) Police Department

September 2007:
Special Agent Paul Buta, United States Secret Service

August 2007:
Corporal Philip Crosby and Patrolman Christopher Denton, Fayetteville (AR) Police Department

July 2007:
Detective Tina Lacertosa, Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Office

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sometimes dreams do come true. In 1989, it happened to James L. Martin. On his 48th birthday, he was sworn into duty with the Seymour, Connecticut Police Department. Going through the arduous training required of a police officer can be tough at any age, but when you are approaching 50 it can be especially difficult. Jim Martin sailed through with flying colors.

After all, he had wanted to be a full-time police officer for as long as he can remember, but the opportunity just never presented itself. Unwilling to give up on his dream, Jim distinguished himself as a part-time officer with the Connecticut State Police and several municipalities for 12 years before the Seymour position finally became available.

Officer Martin says, "Being a policeman is treating people with dignity and respect. If you do that, you get it back." The numerous commendations he has received for bravery and heroism also reveal some other important attributes Officer Martin brings to the job.

Among his awards was a Medal for Bravery for apprehending a deranged gunman who was wielding a shotgun and firing indiscriminately. In June, he was honored with the Distinguished Service Medal for yet another death-defying deed. This time, he pursued and captured a man who was shooting at a car in a crowded neighborhood. Ironically, throughout his 20-year police career Officer Martin has never had to fire his gun in the performance of duty.

His list of accomplishments also include rescuing a pregnant mother and two young children from a burning home, saving two stranded motorists who were caught in a snow storm, and receiving a commendation from the General Assembly in his home state for Officer Martin’s "intensive efforts to remove drunk drivers from Connecticut roads."

Courage under fire, wanting to help people and treating them with dignity and respect—those are the hallmarks of any good police professional. Jim Martin has exemplified them all.