Awarding Officers and Dispatchers for their work
The Awards and Citation Program of the Ontario Police Department was established on October 1, 1977. The personnel of the Ontario Police Department recognized the need for proper recognition and positive promotion of the members of the organization. Not only does this promote a more enjoyable work environment, but it also reaps immeasurable benefits for all the citizens who live and visit the community.
Police Officer and Dispatcher of the Year
The Officer and Dispatcher of the Year awards are first nominated by the Officers and Dispatchers themselves. Once nominated, the awards committee makes the final selection for the award winner. Overall activity, achievements and work habits are just a few of the credentials used in making this final determination. Both winners are honored at the annual awards banquet and other activities hosted by local organizations.
| Year | Officer | Awards to Date |
| 1980 | Ptl. David L. Pugh | |
| 1984 | Ptl. Michael A. Burchett | |
| 1986 | Ptl. Michael A. Burchett |  |
| 1988 | Capt. Calvin L. Miller | |
| 1989 | Sgt. Allen E. Au | |
| 1990 | Ptl. Randy E. Hutchinson | |
| 1991 | Ptl. Rodney D. Smith | |
| 1992 | Ptl. Kenneth A. Ward | |
| 1993 | Capt. Louis C. Bemiller | |
| 1994 | Lt. Allen E. Au | |
| 1995 | Ptl. Richard J. Bevier | |
| 1996 | Lt. Dale S. Myers | |
| 1997 | Ptl. Riley E. Snavely | |
| 1998 | Lt. Rodney D. Smith | |
| 1999 | Ofc. Howard E. Thomas | |
| 2000 | Ofc. John O. Mager | |
| 2001 | Ofc. Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2002 | Ofc. Robert A. Griefenstine | |
| 2003 | Lt. Rodney D. Smith |  |
| 2004 | Ofc. Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2005 | Ofc. Howard E. Thomas | |
| 2006 | Ofc. Bradley D. Kalb | |
| 2007 | Ofc. John O. Mager | |
| 2008 | Ofc. Jon P. Sigler | |
| 2009 | Ofc. Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2010 | Ofc. Tony L. Grimwood | |
| 2011 | Ofc. Jeromie L. Barnhart | |
| 2012 | Ofc. Gregory J. Ford | |
| 2013 | Ofc. Gregory J. Ford | |
| 2014 | Ofc. Casey A. Bly | |
| 2015 | Ofc. Casey A. Bly | |
| 2016 | Ofc. Jeremy Mohn | |
| 2017 | Ofc. Casey A. Bly | |
| Year | Dispatcher | Awards to Date |
| 1994 | Debra A. Magers | |
| 1995 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 1996 | James D. Wallis | |
| 1997 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 1998 | James D. Wallis | |
| 1999 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 2000 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 2001 | Michael J. Mullins | |
| 2002 | Linda Souza | |
| 2003 | Claudia M. Mathews | |
| 2004 | Claudia M. Mathews | |
| 2005 | Claudia M. Mathews | |
| 2006 | Michael J. Wright | |
| 2007 | Linda Souza | |
| 2008 | Claudia M. Mathews | |
| 2009 | Robert G. Taylor | |
| 2010 | Robert G. Taylor | |
| 2011 | Robert G. Taylor | |
| 2012 | Michael J. Wright | |
| 2013 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 2014 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 2015 | Yvette L. Robertson | |
| 2016 | Linda Souza | |
| 2017 | Ian Metcalf | |
Chief's Certificate of Valor
The Chief's Certificate of Valor is given to any officer in recognition of acts of valor or outstanding performance under unusually difficult or dangerous circumstances.
| Year | Officer | |
| 2015 | Ofc. Roddy A. Roose | |
Chief's Citation of Merit
The Chief's Citation of Merit is given to any officer who has participated or assisted in any action or performance that is of a distinguishing nature.
| Year | Officer | |
| 1982 | Ofc. Timothy D. McClaran | |
| 1982 | Ofc. Harold D. Powers | |
| 2004 | Ofc. John O. Mager | |
| 2005 | Ofc. Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2005 | Lt. Rodney D. Smith | |
| 2010 | Lt. Randy E. Hutchinson | |
| 2017 | Lt. Howard E. Thomas | |
| 2017 | Capt. Robert A. Griefenstine | |
Special Commendation
| Year | Officer | |
| 2005 | Ofc. Robert A Griefenstine |  |
| 2005 | Officer Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2005 | Lt. Rodney D. Smith | |
| 2005 | Officer Riley E. Snavely | |
| 2007 | Ofc. John O. Mager (Survival Under Fire) | |
| 2013 | Lt. Robert A. Griefenstine | |
| 2013 | Lt. Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2013 | Detective Jon Sigler | |
| 2015 | Ofc. Roddy A. Roose (Survival Under Fire) | |
ACE Award
The ACE Award is a special recognition for proficiency in the field of Auto Theft through the recovery of stolen motor vehicles and the arrest of one or more of the suspects at the time of the recovery. When an Officer has recovered three or more stolen vehicles with arrests of suspects within a calendar year, the officer is recognized with this award.
| Year | Officer | |
| 1993 | Ofc. Scott F. Lake | |
| 2004 | Ofc. Robert A. Griefenstine | |
| 2005 | Ofc. Howard E. Thomas | |
| 2006 | Ofc. Jeromie L. Barnhart | |
| 2009 | Lt. Scott F. Lake | |
Life Saving Award
| Year | Officer | |
| 2006 | Ofc. Tommy D. Hill Jr. | |
| 2006 | Lt. Riley E. Snavely | |
| 2007 | Ofc. Donald T. Wallis | |
| 2011 | Sgt. Robert A. Griefenstine | |
| 2013 | Ofc. Tony L. Grimwood | |
| 2016 | Ofc. Jeromie Barnhart and Ofc. Jeremy Mohn |
|
Safe Driving Awards
(Current Officers Only)
The Safe Driving Ribbon shall be issued to each officer that has displayed safe driving haibits. The award is issued following the third straight year of safe driving.
| Officer | Total Years | Awards to Date | ||
| Brad D. Kalb |
15
|
 |
||
| Tommy D. Hill Jr. |
15
|
|
||
| Robert A. Griefenstine |
15
|
|
||
| John O. Mager |
10
|
 |
||
| Brian D. Williams |
10
|
|
||
| Adam M. Gongwer |
10
|
|
||
| Howard E. Thomas |
5
|
 |
||
| Jeromie L. Barnhart |
5
|
|
||
| Jon P. Sigler |
5
|
|
||
| Gregory J. Ford |
5
|
|
||
| Tony L. Grimwood |
3
|
|
||
| Roddy A. Roose |
3
|
|
||
| Casey A. Bly |
3
|
|
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) AWARDS
| Year | Officer | |
| 2007 | Ofc. Jeromie L. Barnhart (43 OVI arrests),Ofc. Jason A. Day (42 OVI arrests),Sgt. Howard E. Thomas (29 OVI arrests) | |
| 2008 | Ofc. Jeromie L. Barnhart (34 OVI arrests),Sgt. Howard E. Thomas (27 OVI arrests),Ofc. John Bartolucci (15 OVI arrests) | |
| 2011 | Ofc. Jeromie L. Barnhart (31 OVI arrests),Sgt. Howard E. Thomas (26 OVI arrests),Ofc. Jason Day (10 OVI arrests) |
ACHIEVEMENT/PERFORMANCE AWARDS
| Year | Officer | |
| 2007 | HANDLING OF MEDICAL EMERGENCY: Ofc. John O. Mager, Ofc. Anthony L. Grimwood (09-08-07) | |
| 2010 | HANDLING OF BREAKING AND ENTERING INVESTIGATION: Ofc. Jason Day | |
| 2010 |
HANDLING OF KIDNAPPING CASE: Ofc. Anthony L. Grimwood |
|
| 2011 |
HANDLING OF SUICIDAL THREATS: Lt. Robert A. Griefenstine |
|
| 2011 |
HANDLING OF INDUSTRIAL COPPER THEFT CASE: Ofc. John O. Mager |
|
| 2012 |
HANDLING OF ELDERLY WOMAN IN THE SNOW: Ofc. Tony L. Grimwood |
|
| 2015 |
HANDLING OF THEFT CASE: Ofc. Jeremy M. Mohn |
|
| 2015 |
HANDLING OF THEFT CASE: Ofc. Jason A. Day |
|
| 2015 |
HANDLING OF BARRICADED MAN: Ofc. John O. Mager, Ofc. Roddy A. Roose, Lt. Robert A. Griefenstine, Lt. Tommy D. Hill, Det. Jon P. Sigler, Ofc. Adam M. Gongwer, Ofc. Casey A. Bly |
|
IN MEMORY OF
Ptl. Theodore "Ted" Brinley: July 28, 1985
Ptl. David L. Pugh: shot and severly wounded in the Line of Duty Nov 19th, 1981
THUMBS UP AWARD
Thumbs Up Award from I.L.C.N.C.O. for Parking Enforcement Program
MISC AWARDS
Jail-N-Bail (American Cancer Society) (1986)
H.O.T. Award from State of Ohio
Award from United Way to F.O.P. (1989)Community Policing, Probation and Parole Partnership (2001)
TROPHY AWARDS
| Year | Officer (1st, 2nd, 3rd) |
| 1982 | Knee, Miller, Clark |
| 1983 | Knee, C. Miller, R. Miller |
| 1984 | Knee, Dille, Smith |
| 1985 | Knee, Smith, Dille |
| 1986 | Knee, Burchett, McClaran |
| 1987 | McClaran, Smith, Rupe |
| 1988 | Au, Hutchinson, Smith |
| 1989 | Smith, Ward, Myers |
| 1990 | Knee, Smith, Ward |
| 1991 | Speakman, Smith, Knee |
| 1992 | Speakman, no name available, Smith |
| 1993 | Lake, Smith, BeVier |
| 1994 | No Trophy Shoot |
| 1995 | Lake, BeVier, no 3rd place |
| 1996 | Lake, BeMiller, BeVier |
| 1997 | Au, Myers, Reeves |
| 1998 | Knee, Reeves, Smith |
| 1999 | No Trophy Shoot |
| 2000 | Mager, Lake, Myers |
| 2001 | BeVier, Reeves, Myers |
| 2002 | BeVier, Reeves, Myers |
| 2003 | BeVier, Snavely, Kalb |
| 2004 | Barnhart, Lane, BeVier |
| 2005 | Smith, BeVier, Barnhart |
| 2006 | Barnhart, Myers, BeVier |
| 2007 | BeVier, Barnhart, Mager |
| 2008 | Barnhart, BeVier, Mager |
| 2009 | BeVier, Myers, Barnhart |
| 2010 | Kalb, Barnhart, BeVier |
| 2011 | Roose, Mager, Barnhart |
| 2012 | BeVier, Barnhart, Bly |
| 2013 | Bly, BeVier, Grimwood |
| 2014 | Bly, Bartolucci, Grimwood |
| 2015 | Roose, Barnhart, Gongwer |
| 2016 | Barnhart, Mager, Rivers |
| 2017 | Roose, Mohn, Bailey |
