Who Are the 2012 Police Officers of the Year in Affton and South County?

For the first time, the St. Louis County Officer of the Year Banquet will honor an officer from both the 3rd Precinct, which covers Affton, and the 4th Precinct in South County.

The annual banquet, now in its fourth year, selects an outstanding St. Louis County Police officer to reign as the officer of the year. Usually, only one officer is awarded, but this year, each precinct will have its own officer of the year.

“It’s a celebration of the quality of the officers that we have in the 3rd and 4th precincts,” said Kathleen Luepke, chair of this year’s banquet and a member of the sponsoring group, the St. Louis County Police Department Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. 

“I think it’s comforting for residents to know the quality of the police officers, not only in our precincts but in the St. Louis County Police Department. They’re very polished.”

The association chooses the officer of the year after interviewing eight officers nominated by their captains with 10 top secret interview questions.

"It's really hard to choose one officer out of eight," Luepke said. "There has never been a critera, persay, in choosing, but I think we are all looking for a well-rounded officer."

The 2013 banquet will start at 5:30 p.m. March 10 at Genesis Banquet Center at Telegraph and Reavis Barracks roads.