A true FRPD ‘Star of the Month’ recognized by town government

If completing some business as “usual” regarding annual budgetary requirements, albeit in an unusual pandemic fiscal landscape, and resurrecting some face-to-face failures to see eye-to-eye between members of the public and public officials was a prevailing aspect at the Warren County Government Center, one moment during Monday’s live and in-person Front Royal Town Council meeting was a totally positive one worthy of a journalistic nod.

That moment was the awarding of the Town’s recently instituted “Star of the Month” award to Front Royal Police Officer William H. Lawson.

In prefacing his presentation of the Town award, Interim Town Manager Matt Tederick noted that Lawson had been brought to the Town Administration’s attention in March for exceptional and unsolicited acts of kindness toward a younger member of this community.

At far left, FRPD Chief Kahle Magalis watches Officer William Lawson acknowledged for essential human compassion as a Front Royal ‘Star of the Month’ by Interim Town Manager Matt Tederick. Royal Examiner Photos/Roger Bianchini

“On March 20th he was recognized by his co-workers, who advised that Officer Lawson went above and beyond for a citizen,” Tederick began. “Officer Lawson perceived a particular juvenile to be less fortunate than others and took it upon himself to take up a collection to purchase the juvenile a Christmas present, as well as take him out for games and dinner. Officer Lawson went above and beyond in his actions to show compassion for another human being. He hoped it would improve the juvenile’s perception of police since there were numerous negative dealings with this individual in the past.”

This is what is meant by “community policing”.

And it is definitely the kind of thing that is a contributing factor to our community’s recent success at peacefully and jointly between law enforcement and citizens reacting with one voice united against police violence against the communities they patrol, and racism in general in our society – and that is without even knowing the race of the youth Officer Lawson decided to give a better Christmas too, this past year than he would have otherwise had.

This is the antithesis of what we have seen in national reports on the worst face of law enforcement; the worst face of righteous protest being hijacked by opportunists with violent intent aimed at self-profit or violence for violence’s sake; the worst face of a government that would set us against each other based on negative stereotyping.

Well done, Officer Lawson.

Well done FRPD, and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office refocusing on its community-wide policing as illustrated in both agency’s participation in and work around the largest public demonstration Front Royal and this community has seen in decades, if not longer.

We are lucky to have you as part of our law enforcement community; as part of our community.

Law enforcement, Town and County, were with and around last Friday’s anti-racism FR Unites rally now estimated at over 1500, perhaps as many as 2,000 peaceful demonstrators in our town of 15,000. Below, see if you can spot Chief Magalis and Sheriff Butler.