Crime & Safety
McLean Police Officer of the Year Lauded for "Can Do" Attitude
McLean residents honor their protectors
Fairfax County police officer Aaron Spooner drives 90 miles a day to come to the McLean police station, get on a mountain bike and ride around keeping residents safe in the Route 50-Lee Highway area.
Approximately 50 percent of his 44 arrests in 2011 involved drugs.
Officer Spooner was honored Wednesday night as the McLean District Police Officer of the Year for his strong work ethic, his teamwork and his "keen sense for locating criminal activity" by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to the McLean station.
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"He's the type of officer you can put in any situation and he gets the job done," said Capt. Dan Janickey, McLean District Commander.
Fairfax County Deputy Chief of Police Lt. Col. Ed Roessler told Officer Spooner, "You get to do a lot of fun stuff. . . I admire what you do."
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CAC Chair Bill Trapp said five police officers were nominated for Police Officer of the Year, an award given annually. Officer Spooner was the unanimous choice of the selection committee.
"He's an outstanding young officer. McLean station is extremely fortunate to have so many officers doing outstanding work," said John Speicher, CAC Vice Chair.
Officer Spooner said after the ceremony, "I am honored. I appreciate (the CAC) coming out tonight. It's nice to be able to come out and socialize."
He is a husband an dad of a two-year-old. He has served in the McLean District since 2006, when he graduated for the police academy.
He is a member of the bike patrol and the lead instructor for the department's mountain bike school.
Officer Spooner was honored at dinner at a Falls Church restaurant attended by about 25 citizens and police officials. The Citizens Advisory Committee has honored a McLean police officer yearly since 1993. Officer Spooner is the 20th recipient of the Police Officer of the Year Award.
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