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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981 08-12 Arnold honored as Minnesota's top cop THE REVIEW P. Arnold honored as Minnesota's top cop By JONATHON CLYDE GLASS patrolling which take up too much of Staff Writer police officers'time,Arnold explained.. Arnold traveled to Moorhead July 10 to Sgt.David L.Arnold,a 15-year-veteran receive his award."I felt like I was ac- with the Maplewood Police Department, cepting that for an awful lot of police has been selected as Minnesota's out- officers,"he said.It was not only a per- standing law enforcement officer of the sonal honor for himself, but also a year by the American Legion. He was professional honor for police officers sponsored by American Legion Post 39, throughout the state,he added. which is commanded by Virgil As the only full-time officer in the Schumann. juvenile division, he coordinates the Arnold became a police officer in 1966 at juvenile justice diversion program. the age of 21 and has earned a long list of Arnold has been doing less dramatic,but commendations as a street officer.For very important work with hundreds of the last two and one-half years;he has youthful offenders. Approximately 300 been sergeant-investigator with the juveniles have been through the program juvenile division, building Maplewood's since he took over. youth diversion and restitution program to the largest in the state. The offenders' first obligation is to Arnold attracted special attention last provide restitution to the victims of their December when he dove into ice-cold actions,like repairing damaged property Lake Phalen to rescue a Vadnais Heights or providing monetary compensation, man whose car had skidded off the road according to Arnold.The juveniles also and had become submerged in the lake. may do volunteer service for any of a Arnold rode out to the car in a fire number of community groups throughout department boat and jumped into the the city,he added. water.After finding the passenger door There are many advantages to handling stuck,he managed to open the driver's juvenile offenders on the local level door. With his hands becoming in- rather than placing them in the county creasingly numb, Arnold had to make court system,according to Arnold.The several attempts before he could finally whole process is handled on a more unbuckle a jammed seatbelt and pry the personal level,and if the youths have the half-frozen driver from the car. chance to"make right"for their actions "I don't care what other awards they they are more likely to develop self- ever give me,they could never surpass respect and self-esteem,he said. the feeling we had when we knew that guy The diversion program operates more was going to make it,"said Arnold. quickly and is more cost-effective than "It was really fun.That part of police the court system,Arnold continued.The work is so exciting," he added en- youths usually complete their restitution thusiastically. The chance to do and are through the system within a few something physical and help somebody is weeks,compared to the months which are much better than the report-writing and frequently required in the courts. 1'1L J �-2,/q,fI - .~°`� �ti , . .. .. , .,,,... L _, , ,,,. „.,,, ., ..,,, . . .. ,. _ . .. . „„. , SGT:INVESTIGATOR DAVID ARNOLD,of the Maplewood Police Department,has been named as the American Legion's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for the entire state of Minnesota.Arnold rescued a man whose car skidded off the road and sank in icy Lake Phalen last December,and is the only full-time officer in the Maplewood Juvenile Division.Arnold was nominated by North St.Paul American Legion Post No.39. Arnold uses a variety of approaches to that if they come through his office again deal with the youthful offenders. He they will probably end up in the court coordinates an extensive program of system,and there have been very few individual,family and chemical depen- repeaters,he said deny counseling intended to identify the "Most everybody knows what's right problems leading to unlawful behavior and wrong,and,in most cases,they know and prevent their repetition. His caseswhat's legal and illegal,” said Arnold. frequently involve youths from broken "We let them know where they've been, homes or with chemical dependency in where they're at,and where they're going the home.Too often parents are "just —what will happen to them in the system hanging in there,"rather than providing if things keep going the way they are." real guidance,he said. Arnold brings a firm,but patient,style Along with the counseling, Arnold to his work.As law enforcement officer of makes no bones about his belief that the the year,he sets high standards of in- diversion program is a one-time op- terpersonal and administrative skills,as portunity.He makes it clear to the youths well as personal courage and dedication.