HomeMy WebLinkAboutJeff-Long-CWK-Leadership Award
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: David Katz, Communications Intern
Phone 952-833-9522 • Fax 952-826-0389 • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Non-profit Honors Edina Police Chief
with Leadership Award
Edina, Minn., Feb. 23, 2012 – Connecting With Kids recently honored Edina Chief Police Jeff Long with its
annual Leadership Award in recognition of his and the Edina Police Department’s outstanding contributions to
the community and its youth. The Edina-based non-profit acknowledged Long and other 2012 recipients at its
Thursday, Feb. 23 Leadership Breakfast at the Braemar Golf Course Clubhouse.
Each year, nominations are submitted on behalf of individuals and community organizations who contribute in
some substantial way to Connecting With Kids’ primary mission: ensuring that our community is a healthy
environment for children to grow and to learn. The candidate pool is whittled down to a very select group of
honorees by Connecting With Kids’ Board of Directors.
“We don't have a fixed equation or set system for ranking candidates, nor do we have a quota of awards to
give out,” said Heather Haen Anderson, Connecting With Kids Executive Director. “The board considers
each nomination on its own merits. We appreciated Chief Long’s record of leadership in our community and
the Police Department’s involvement with children.”
Those interactions are many and varied. “We teach D.A.R.E. and work with the Sober Squad at Edina High
School,” said Long. “In addition, the department runs the Police Explorer program, a summer park program,
and coordinates with the Red Cross to provide babysitting courses to youth who might not otherwise be able
to afford those important classes.”
The number of youth-oriented outreach programs continues to grow. In 2010, the Police Department started
a safe driving program aimed at that demographic. In 2011, the department added a new initiative addressing
underage drinking.
“This shows deep concern for our community, and it is appreciated by all of us who live and work in Edina,”
added Arrie Larsen Manti, Chair of the Connecting With Kids Board of Directors. “Chief Long and his officers
really go above and beyond.”
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City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
This is the fourth year of the Leadership Award program. For more information on Connecting With Kids,
including where to start if you have a nominee in mind for next year’s Leadership Awards and how else you
can get involved, visit www.connectingwithkidsedina.org.
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