By Jeff Lipton
During his career with the Fourth Precinct, Walsh has been assigned as a patrol officer to the Cedarhurst area, where his "self-initiated arrest activity and enforcement levels were among the highest in the precinct," town officials said. The Fourth Precinct encompasses the Five Towns and Atlantic Beach, Oceanside, Island Park, East Rockaway, Lido Beach and Point Lookout.
"Officer Walsh is a major asset to the Fourth Precinct and the community," said Inspector George Gudmundsen, precinct commander.
In recognition of his talents and initiative, Walsh was assigned to the precinct's elite Problem Oriented Policing Unit in May 1997 and while assigned to that unit, he also became involved in the police department's Mentoring Program, which assists identified at-risk youth with a positive role model. The officer serves as a mentor to an Inwood teen, providing guidance and leadership, officials said.
During the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Walsh and his team were responsible for evaluating the risk to potential terrorists targets within the Fourth Precinct and planning police countermeasures. As a result, security was beefed up around houses of worship and religious schools. The comprehensive document was then used as a model for the entire county.
"He was deeply involved in the preparation of the plans that had been developed for the police department to respond to potential terrorist targets within the Fourth," Gudmundsen said. "That is the main reason he was given the award.
"But he is involved in many other things and is extremely community-oriented...and has helped to combat crime as well as quality of life issues."
Earlier this year, police officials identified a need to have an officer serve as the precinct crime analysis czar to assist the department in the newly-formed Nass-Stat process, which tracks crime patterns. Although the job required learning new skills and changing his hours, Walsh "didn't hesitate to assist where needed," town officials said.
"Officer Walsh has been critical to the function and order of the Fourth Precinct and has provided outstanding service to the community he serves," town officials said in presenting him with the police service award.
