FOREST PARK — Because of her actions in de-escalating a violent domestic situation in 2022, Forest Park Police officer Sheena Shelton was honored with an Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing.
She was recognized June 6 in Washington, D.C. at the sixth annual awards ceremony and was honored June 20 at a Forest Park City Council meeting.
“Law enforcement is a noble and indispensable profession,” U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland wrote about the awards. “Every day, law enforcement officers brave difficulty and danger to keep their communities safe. And every day, officers forge and maintain the strong community ties that are essential for ensuring public safety. Although recent years have presented law enforcement with significant and unprecedented challenges, officers across the country continue to rise to meet our nation’s most pressing threats to public safety. The officers we recognize this year are outstanding examples of that work.”
Shelton was honored in the Field Operations Category.
This category honors exceptional performance in areas that include heroic, quick, innovative, or otherwise exceptional police work in partnership with other officers, agencies, or the community. Officers can be honored for successfully using de-escalation techniques to resolve a potentially violent situation such as a suicide, a person in a mental health crisis or struggling with substance abuse, a hostage situation, or a barricaded suspect.
In July of 2022, Shelton responded to a domestic call involving a suicidal woman who threatened her husband with a rifle.
When Shelton arrived, the threats were then targeted towards her.
The woman argued with officers and wouldn’t allowing anyone to approach her home.
During four hours of negotiations, Shelton maintained phone contact and persuaded the woman to…
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