The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

OFFICER OF THE MONTH - SEPTEMBER 1998

DET. LARRY POWELL
JEFFERSON COUNTY (KY) POLICE DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) has announced the selection of Det. Larry Powell, of the Jefferson County, Kentucky, Police Department, as its Officer of the Month for September 1998.

According to NLEOMF Chairman Craig W. Floyd, "For 22 years, Det. Larry Powell has dedicated his life to fighting crime and safeguarding the streets of Kentucky. We are proud to honor him as one of the nation's finest law enforcement officers."

The first thing most people notice about Det. Powell is his size. He is 6' 3" and weighs 260 pounds. He is also an avid weightlifter. His colleagues say that he intimidates most criminals by his hulking figure. But his colleagues add that if the criminals aren't intimidated by his size, they are invariably trapped by his keen intellect. According to Troy Riggs, Jefferson County's Public Information Officer, "Det. Powell has common sense and intelligence and that's a tough combination for a criminal to beat." He also has a 99% conviction rate.

As a youngster, Larry Powell had two uncles who were police officers. He grew up listening to their stories and looking at their police cars. But more importantly, they helped people, and he liked the idea of helping people.

For the past 22 years, Det. Powell has helped the people of Kentucky, first as a dispatcher, then as a patrol officer, and most recently as a detective. "He goes no matter who or when he's called," says Powell's supervisor Sgt. Lee Gordon.

Currently assigned to the Auto Theft unit, Powell has been on the leading edge of innovative police work. He was the first to volunteer for the domestic violence unit and the first to make warrant-less arrests of violators who had left the scene of domestic violence crimes. As a result of his kind treatment, a 14-year-old girl trusted him enough to tell him her stepfather had been sexually abusing her. When the case came to trial and the defense attorney questioned her about the truth of her statement and why she told Powell, she said, "Because, he's the first person who's been nice to me in a long time." They jury smiled at Powell when he was called to the stand that day.

According to Capt. Paula Bruce, Det. Powell took an interest in domestic violence on his own and volunteered for the program. "He'll do anything you ask him to do," she continued. "Larry is compassionate and has a real desire to help people, and he is extremely thorough in his investigations. He really supports the victims."

It was Powell's diligent attention to detail that led to the arrests of two young men who went on a crime spree. After breaking into some cars and finding weapons, they graduated to armed robbery. Crossing the border into Indiana, they were holed up in a motel. While playing with a gun, one of the men shot into the floor wounding a woman in the room below. Working with Indiana police, Powell was able to develop the case and as a result the men were arrested and convicted. It's not surprising when Sgt. Gordon says, "He's an outstanding investigator and … he leaves no stone unturned."

A field training officer and a lead officer, this decorated law enforcement professional has contributed to the success of Jefferson County's Community Policing Program. "His district was one of the first and a focal point for the program," says Riggs. "It was due to his diligence that the program has been a success."

More recently, Det. Powell faced an officer's nightmare. A drunken driver drove his truck into an electrical utility pole with a transformer and fled the scene, leaving an unconscious woman in the burning truck. After blocking the intersection, Det. Powell and a private citizen worked through sparking wires to free the woman and carry her to safety.

Of this outstanding officer, Jefferson County Police Chief Ronald A. Ricucci says it best, "Larry Powell is the type of veteran officer his peers should emulate. His commitment to the public is the driving force behind his success."

The NLEOMF Officer of the Month Program is sponsored by a generous contribution from THE FORCE.