2012 Winners

Scott Mills, Toronto, Canada, Josh Maxwell, New South Wales, Australa, Gordon Scobbie, Tayside, Scotland, Sgt Rhonda Lepelt, Officer Chris Rasmussen and Captain Chris Cesena from Redwood City, CA, and Det Ian Barraclough, Vancouver, Canada. Not picture, Kym Charlton, Queensland, Australia Photo: Dale Stockton, LawOfficer.com

For more information about the ConnectedCOPS of 2012 see “ConnectedCOPS win big with social media”.

About the awards

The ConnectedCOPS awards were created by LAwS Communications with the intent of recognizing the good work being done by individual officers and law enforcement agencies with social media. The international law enforcement community will be considered for these awards. Any officer or agency anywhere in the world is eligible. Nominations can be made by anyone. Full contact information must be supplied or the nomination will be voided. All nominations will be verified.

The first annual ConnectedCOPS awards were awarded at The SMILE Conference in Richmond in September, 2012. Nominations for the 2013 Awards will be accepted, at this site, beginning April 1st and will remain open through May 31, 2013. Evaluation and determination will be made by an international panel of judges between June 1st and July 31st.

Winners will receive 1. Recognition of their achievement at the awards ceremony in Richmond, 2. A custom trophy, 3. Financial assistance for one to attend SMILE in Richmond, 4. Free admittance to The SMILE Conference in September, 2013 and 5. International acknowledgement of their achievement in partnering media publications.

Thank you to all who took the time to nominate in 2012. Eighty-three nominations from 8 countries were received.

ConnectedCOPS Award of Excellence at a Large Agency     Nominate

This award is given to a law enforcement agency, anywhere in the world, of 151 sworn officers or more that has demonstrated overall excellence in the use of social media to enhance its services to the public. The agency exhibits leadership, creativity and innovation in its use of social media to engage, educate, recruit, and etc. The agency has a broad and deep understanding of social media use and applies sound governance and strategy in its social media operations. The agency also promotes the use of social networking in law enforcement through its outreach to colleagues and by mentoring others.
The nominee for this award must be a law enforcement AGENCY.

ConnectedCOPS Award of Excellence at a Small Agency     Nominate

This award is given to a law enforcement agency of 150 sworn officers or fewer that has demonstrated overall excellence in the use of social media to enhance its services to the public. The agency exhibits leadership, creativity and innovation in its use of social media to engage, educate, recruit, and etc. The agency has a broad and deep understanding of social media use and applies sound governance and strategy in its social media operations. The agency also promotes the use of social networking in law enforcement through its outreach to colleagues and by mentoring others.
The nominee for this award must be a law enforcement AGENCY.

ConnectedCOPS Leadership Award     Nominate

This award is given to the individual officer up to and including the rank of Sergeant (or its international equivalent) at any worldwide law enforcement agency who has singularly demonstrated exemplary and selfless leadership in the use of social media to improve public safety and/or enhance his or her agency’s community engagement and reputation. This individual is creative, innovative and fearless and shares what s/he knows by mentoring others, participating in public speaking opportunities and leading by example.
The nominee for this award must be an individual sworn law enforcement officer.

ConnectedCOPS Top Cop Award     Nominate

This award is given to the law enforcement executive of the rank of LT (or its international equivalent) and up, at any worldwide law enforcement agency who has demonstrated significant and sustained executive leadership to further the use of social media and Internet technologies in law enforcement. This individual is a risk-taker and a pioneer in his or her promotion and use of social media in policing. The recipient of the Top Cop Award also gives his thought leadership and expertise freely to others.
The nominee for this award must be an individual sworn law enforcement officer.

ConnectedCOPS Social Media Investigator     Nominate

Award Sponsor

This award is given to the law enforcement investigator at any worldwide law enforcement agency who, as a practitioner, has used social media successfully to solve crime. The Social Media Investigator practices appropriate security measures and supervision in his/her investigations.
The nominee for this award must be an individual sworn law enforcement officer.

ConnectedCOPS Social Media Incident Management     Nominate

Award Sponsor

This award is given to the law enforcement officer or agency anywhere in the world who has used social media to manage and/or influence a public safety/emergency event, whether unforeseen or known. This officer/agency has strategically and successfully implemented social media engagement techniques to positively and effectively communicate public safety information in an urgent or emergency situation.
The nominee for this award can be a law enforcement agency OR individual law enforcement professional to include civilians.