Shaler commissioners recognized two of the township’s law enforcement officers on Dec. 12.

Lieutenant Josh Watkins was recognized for completing an 11-week program at the National Academy of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“The experience there is hard to tell to people who haven’t been there,” Watkins said. “I have many good ideas that I’m excited to bring back to our agency.”

He was nominated for the program by Shaler Police Chief Sean Frank.

“He joins only three other officers in Shaler’s department history to complete the program,” Frank said.

The curriculum was a combination of physical and academic training and Watkins stayed in Quantico, Va., for the entirety of the program while his wife remained at home with their five sons.

“Luckily, I have the most amazing wife in the world,” Watkins said. “I think all of our families deserve recognition because we have a difficult job that pulls from our family night and day at odd hours and odd shifts. I want to publicly thank my wife for standing up and taking care of our house without me. I couldn’t ask for a better wife to do all of that.”

Officer Kevin Cooney was recognized for winning the 2023 Top Gun Award, an award dedicated to the efforts in removing impaired drivers from our roadways. The Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association, a professional organization working to eradicate DUIs from prevention, enforcement, adjudication and rehabilitation standpoints, hosts an annual dinner and award ceremony.

“All of our officers get involved in (stopping) impaired driving,” Frank said. “In 2022, Shaler Police had 100 DUI arrests. Officer Kevin Cooney had 59 of those DUI arrests.”

Cooney said that he treasures the award. This is the second year he has won the Top Gun Award.

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