The Ohio State University Police Division is committed to enhancing safety for the campus community. As a university agency, servicing a college campus that is home to nearly 100,000 students, faculty, staff and visitors, OSUPD has a uniquely tailored approach focusing on both safety and education.
On Wednesday, January 24, OSUPD honored a select group of officers that exemplify what it means to serve, protect and educate at Ohio State. Below is a full listing of the police division’s annual awards and honorees:
Officer of the Year Award – Officer Cassi Shaffer
Officer Shaffer is heavily involved in OSUPD’s Community Police Academy and serves on the Crisis Action Team, along with the university President’s protection detail. Officer Shaffer is recognized for her consistent level of high performance and dedication to OSUPD’s mission.
“Receiving this award is a great honor,” Shaffer said. “It truly reflects the great partnerships I have within this community. Without my amazing colleagues and predecessors that I have had the privilege to work with, I would not be where I am today.”
Supervisor of the Year Award – Lieutenant Andy West
Lieutenant West walks the walk, serving out on the streets of The Ohio State University’s Columbus campus. In 2017, West made several arrests that diffused a collection of criminal activity. He is recognized for his dedication to his duty and for his leadership within the division.
“I am very appreciative to be the recipient of this accolade,” West said. “It means a lot to me and I will continue trying to work to the best of my abilities. I would like to issue a special thank you to my colleagues within the Police Division and Department of Public Safety who recognized my performance and put forward the nomination on my behalf.”
Distinguished Service Award – Detective Jason Becker
Detective Becker serves as a member of the Ordinance Team, the Labor Relations Committee, trains officers in firearm proficiency and works on Active Threat training, among several other duties. Detective Becker completed more than 30 major investigations in 2017. He earns the award for his efforts and outstanding service to the university community.
“It is an honor to receive such an award, without question,” Becker said. “Generally, I just try to do my best.”
Distinguished Service Award – Officer Tom Schneider
Officer Schneider serves on the Critical Incident Team, Personal Protection Team and works as security detail for head football coach Urban Meyer. Schneider’s swift actions helped saved the lives of two Ohio State students in 2017. Officer Schneider receives the honor for the important contributions he made to the university community.
“I'm honored to receive this award,” Schneider said. “I'm grateful to work with an outstanding team of officers and supervisors that helped assist with this situation. I appreciate their support to have a successful resolution.”
Team Award – (Field Training Supervisor and Officers)
Lt. Brandon Yankanin, Officer Brian Grefe, Officer Steve Laman, Officer John Quinlan, Officer Marge Rizalvo, Officer Tom Schneider, Officer Tom Shankle and Officer Erik Winger
Citizen Award - Shaniqua Ingol, Office of International Affairs, Program Coordinator for Global Engagement
“I am so honored for this opportunity. I hope this will inspire people to continue bridging the gap between the officers and the community, creating a true Buckeye Nation.”
Citizen Award - Justin Weimer, Student Academic Services, Manager University Registrar Operations
“The events of November 2016 were tough for campus and for my colleagues in SAS,” Weimer said. “It was stressful, but moving forward we wanted to learn from it and provide every opportunity for education for our staff to be prepared in the future. Working with Officer Shaffer, she was able to provide this expertise and knowledge to make us feel better prepared. I’m honored and thankful for this recognition, but it wouldn’t be warranted without Cassi and OSUPD’s expertise in helping us move in the right direction.”