HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeeger PR
City of Edina 4801 W. 50th St. Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Debbie Townsend, Communications Assistant
Phone 952-826-0396 dtownsend@EdinaMN.gov EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Police Officer Seeger Receives 2017 Leadership Award
Edina, Minn., March 7, 2017 – Edina Police Officer Mike Seeger was honored with a 2017 Connecting With
Kids Leadership Award on Friday, March 3, for his 16 years coordinating the local Junior Police Program.
Through the program, more than 8,000 third-graders have had positive, face-to-face time with police officers.
“Officer Seeger is a passionate advocate for the importance of the Junior Police Program and the importance
of kids having positive and caring adults investing in them and helping them understanding being a safe and
positive member of their community,” Sgt. Brian Hubbard wrote in his nomination of Seeger.
The award from the Edina Community Foundation’s Connecting With Kids Program was one of six honors
handed out a special breakfast at the Edina Country Club.
“I do it because I like doing it,” Seeger said of the Junior Police Program.
During his short acceptance speech, Seeger gave a nod to his father, Bob Seeger, who actually helped start the
Junior Police Program in Edina.
“We thought it was a great program and it needed to stay in Edina, so we brought the program to Rotary 25
years ago and started it then,” Bob Seeger said.
The program now serves more than 600 students a year, a far cry from when Mike Seeger began as an Edina
Police Officer 16 years ago.
“When I got started, it was only one school and it was run by one our Reserves,” Seeger said.
He revamped the program and worked to get it into schools. Now every second- or third-grader learns about
safety issues such as stranger danger, cyberbullying and the importance of locking doors.
Officers visit each elementary school to make a presentation. They later return to meet with students
individually, go over a Junior Police workbook and give them their badges.
“It’s the first time most of them have been in contact with a police officer,” Seeger said. The goal is to make
that a positive experience.
For more information, contact Seeger at 952-826-1610 or mseeger@EdinaMN.gov.
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