Police Officer of the Month

December 2004

Chief Livesay has selected Corporal Donna Rowlette as the police officer of the month for December 2004. She is commended for her high productivity in traffic enforcement and criminal arrests, while also serving in a supervisory capacity.

Corporal Rowlette showed extreme dedication to the department’s emphasis on traffic enforcement. She led her squad mates by example, making 87 traffic stops and arresting four drunk drivers, proving that traffic enforcement is a gateway that can be used to find more serious violations.

One of those incidents occurred on December 18 when Corporal Rowlette noticed a vehicle driving erratically on Route 1. After stopping the vehicle, Corporal Rowlette found that the driver was intoxicated, he had three outstanding warrants for his arrest and he was driving a vehicle with stolen tags. The observations skills utilized for this minor violation were what ultimately enabled Corporal Rowlette to arrest this suspect on multiple charges.

Corporal Rowlette also used her interview and investigative skills to arrest a student for distribution of marijuana in a middle school. Corporal Rowlette responded to Patuxent Valley Middle School on December 9 for a report of a young student possibly using and selling drugs to other middle-schoolers. Corporal Rowlette located the juvenile and, after speaking with him, found that the juvenile had been distributing food laced with marijuana to other students in the lunchroom. She charged the juvenile with possession and distribution of marijuana.

Corporal Rowlette was able to accrue several arrests and a high volume of traffic enforcement, while also serving as a supervisor for one-third of the month. Congratulations to Corporal Rowlette on a job well done!