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PARK LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIP

To recognize the outstanding work and accomplishments of men and woman in the park law enforcement profession throughout North America we encourage you to submit nominations of deserving officers.

Award Categories:

1. Life Saving Award: Includes acts that are performed both in the line of duty and while acting in an off duty capacity.
2. Valor Award: Any act of gallantry or courage while working as a park law enforcement officer.  This includes acts of valor performed either on duty or in an off duty  capacity.
3. Distinguished Service Award: Recognizes exceptional service to park law enforcement and to the community in which the officer serves.  Service must be in addition to the  officer’s regular duties.
4. Lifetime Achievement Award: Recognizes career of service to both park law enforcement and the Park Law Enforcement Association (PLEA).  A minimum of 20 years in park law  enforcement and 10 years associated with PLEA is required.

Work status of officers that can receive awards:

1. Full-time officers are eligible for all four awards.
2. Part-time and auxiliary officers are eligible for the “Lifesaving Award” and the “Valor Award”.

Status with the Park Law Enforcement Association:
        
All award nominees must meet one of the following PLEA membership conditions:

1. Officer must be an individual member in good standing of the Park Law Enforcement Association (PLEA).
2. Officer must be employed by a department that has an agency membership in good standing with the Park Law Enforcement Association (PLEA).

Nomination Procedures and Selection Criteria:
          
1. Nominations should be made for acts and service that occur between December 1 and November 30 for the year prior to each annual PLEA Conference.
2. All nominations are to be in written form.
3. Nominations will either be submitted to the Executive Director on the PLEA website or directly to the PLEA President.
4. All nominations are to be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the annual PLEA Conference.
5. An Awards Committee selected by the PLEA President will review all nominations.  This committee will then make all determinations of any awards bestowed.
6. The PLEA President will notify all award recipients.  The recipients will receive their awards at the annual PLEA Conference if possible.
7. All decisions by the awards committee are final.

 

Commander Newell S. Rand Jr.
 Scholarship Program

The Park Law Enforcement Association Newell S. Rand Jr. Scholarship Program is designed to provide scholarships to persons pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a Park Law Enforcement related course of study.
Requirements include:

- being a graduate of an accredited high school,
- having a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or if enrolled in college, having a   cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, and
- being enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 hours per semester) in a post-secondary institution.
An applicant must submit the scholarship application containing the information above and include with it the following;

1. Three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from a counselor/instructor, principal and/or college advisor);
2. A one page essay explaining why this scholarship is desired;
3. A listing and summary of school and community activities exhibiting leadership and character
Qualified candidates must be pursuing a degree in one of the following areas of study;

- Environmental/Park law enforcement
- Criminal Justice students taking classes in environmental areas such as geology, biology, wildlife management, planning, forestry, some aspect of natural resource management or a closely related field.
- Criminal Justice administration in a parks and recreation areas

Scholarships will be awarded once per year subject to appropriated funds to students selected by the Park Law Enforcement Association Board of Directors. The amount of the scholarship is $1000.00.  Once awarded, a recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA each semester and remain a full-time student for the duration of the scholarship.  Funds must be expended within one year and proof of enrollment will be required.
All applications, including other required documents, must be postmarked by
June 1 of each year in order to be considered by the committee.

Newell S Rand Jr., commander of the Prince George’s County Division of the Maryland National Capital Park Police died on March 19th, 1997.  He was serving as Vice President of PLEA at the time of his death.  During his tenure with the Park Police he was instrumental in bring many new innovations to both his department and the field of park law enforcement.  The Park Law Enforcement Association is proud to sponsor this scholarship in memory of Commander Rand.