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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
20-142
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
December 3, 2013
To recognize Antonial Atkins for being honored as the 2013 District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department Officer of the Year.
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins was born in Washington, D.C., on November 4, 1967;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins was raised and currently resides in the Ward 5 community of Woodridge;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins graduated from H.D. Woodson Senior High School, participated in the District of Columbia Summer Youth Employment Program, attended the University of the District of Columbia, and graduated from Tesst Technology Institute, obtaining a Computer Support Technician Certificate;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins served in the United States Army in Garlstedt, Germany, as a Combat Engineer from 1985-1987, where he attained the rank of Specialist and received several awards, medals, and ribbons, including a Good Conduct Medal;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins was employed as a Mail Carrier in the Government Mail Section in the United States Postal Service in 1988;
WHEREAS, Antoinal Atkins joined the Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”) in 1989 and was assigned to the 4th District in early 1990;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins was then assigned to the 2nd District as a Patrol Officer, confronted challenges including burglaries, thefts, traffic issues, and robberies, and served as a bridge between residents, stakeholders, homeless individuals, university students, business leaders, and community leaders;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins brought innovated ideas to the community by proactively attending community meetings, creating a Crime Tip pamphlet, and circulating pamphlets to residents he encountered while on patrol;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins initiated the “Meet and Greet” Program in February 2012, which included holding meetings at residents’ homes, inviting police officers, police officials, homeless individuals, retail managers, and residents from the community to address quality of life issues, city services, crime patterns, and crime prevention methods;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins’s Meet and Greet program was so successful that meetings had to be held at a local park to accommodate the number of new participants;
WHEREAS, during the summer and fall of 2012, a rash of burglaries occurred in the community and Antonial Atkins initiated the “Vacant House Check Program” to encourage residents to inform MPD when homeowners would leave town;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins’s “Vacant House Check Program” yielded a 100% success rate, enabled the MPD to look after houses while residents were away from home, and required officers to report the disposition of homes to prevent burglaries;
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins has been awarded a host of awards and recognized for his hard work and commitment to the residents of the District of Columbia, including MPD 2nd District Officer of the Month (August 2011), American Society for Security International National Capital Chapter Award of Merit (May 2012), MPD 2nd District Commanders Choice Award (September 2011), MPD 2nd District Patrol Service Area 206 Officer of the Year (October 2012), MPD 2nd District Officer of the Year (October 2012), Georgetown Business Association Joe Pozell Public Safety Award (December 2012), Metropolitan Police Department 13th Annual MPD Officer of the Year for the Entire City (February 2013), 12th Annual Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Awards for Distinguished DC Government Employee, Finalist (May 2013), and the Washington DC Police Foundation 8th Annual Law Enforcement Awards (June 2013);
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins has demonstrated his dedication to civic engagement beyond his service in the MPD by participating as a football coach for children (2009-2011), Classroom Aide for Friendship Charter School (2008-Present), and Assistant Director of Security at Bethel World Outreach Church; and
WHEREAS, Antonial Atkins is the proud son of Dehavelin Atkins, brother to 3 siblings, and father to son Antonial Atkins Jr.
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this resolution may be cited as the “Antonial Atkins Recognition Resolution of 2013”.
Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia recognizes and honors Antonial Atkins for his distinguished service and extensive contributions to the District of Columbia.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
