Houston Police Department

May 30, 2006 -- Houston Police Officer Erik ter Meulen was named "Officer of the Year" by the Houston Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association in a ceremony held on April 6, 2006 at the Houston Police Academy. Photos of the ceremony are attached to this press release.

Officer ter Meulen joined the Houston Police Department in 1992. Over the past 13 years, ter Meulen has amassed many letters of commendation from the citizens of Houston and has received the Houston Police Department's Lifesaving Award. He is a patrol officer who is also known as a tenacious investigator, routinely assisting other officers in tracking down and arresting hard to find suspects wanted for sexual assault, aggravated robbery and other serious crimes. He devotes both on and off-duty time to bring these criminals to justice. Once the trail has gone cold, many of his colleagues call upon ter Meulen to track down and bring in the wanted felons. He gets the job done.

Lynn Clooney was a founding member of the Houston Citizens Police Academy formed in 1989. Although she died in 1993, she spent many years serving the men and women of the Houston Police Department in her role as president of the Positive Interaction Program (P.I.P.). The Lynn Clooney Memorial Award was established in honor of Ms. Clooney's contributions to the Houston Police Department and to recognize those officers who "go the extra mile" to serve the citizens of Houston.

For additional information, please contact the HPD Public Affairs Division at 713-308-3200.