Optimist Club honors Birdsboro, Amity police ‘Officers of the Year’
DOUGLASSVILLE >> The Daniel Boone Optimist Club has a healthy respect for law enforcement.
For one, the current president, Victor M. Frederick IV, is a former Amity Township police detective turned district judge. In addition, District Judge Steven M. Chieffo, a former police officer in Amity, and Birdsboro, Temple and Pottstown and the successor to Frederick on the local bench, is a member of the club board of directors.
But the Optimists’ law enforcement focus actually got started in July 1965 when past International President Carl Bowen and former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had a discussion that resulted in the birth of the Respect For Law community activity.
Respect for Law is now one of the most popular Optimist activities with more than 1,500 clubs nationwide participating each year.
This year, the Amity Township and Birdsboro police departments were each asked to select one officer to honor as their Officer of the Year.
Amity chose Officer Brian Devlin and Birdsboro selected Officer Alan Fay, both of whom were named Officer of the Year at a ceremony at Keystone Villa at Douglassville.
Each chief gave a brief presentation as to why their officer was chosen.
State Rep. David M. Maloney Sr., an Oley Township Republican, presented the officers with an proclamation from the House.
Frederick and Chieffo presented the Optimist Awards.
“As we conclude our 51st year, this is a wonderful way for the Daniel Boone Optimist Club to foster community respect and gratitude toward our local law enforcement agencies and the men and women who serve and protect our families,” Frederick said. “We are very happy to be able to recognize on behalf of our community, two very deserving officers as Officer of the Year.”
“We are very happy to be able to recognize on behalf of our community, two very deserving officers as Officer of the Year.” — Victor M. Frederick IV, president