Exchange Club Names MPD Homeless Outreach Service Team ‘Officer of the Year’
The Murfreesboro Police Department (MPD) Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST) has been named, ‘Officer of the Year,’ by the Exchange Club of Rutherford County.
Exchange Club President Melissa Wright presented the officers with the award at Through the Grapevine on Broadmor St. on Wednesday.
HOST members include Sergeant Mark Wood, Field Training Officer Drew Stalnaker, and Officer Bri Dunn.
Sgt. Wood started his career with MPD in June 2002. He was promoted to sergeant in 2011. Wood has also been a part Parks Division, Special Operations Unit (SOU), and K9 Unit.
Stalnaker joined MPD in Nov. 2017. He is also a Field Training Officer (FTO) and Defense Tactics Instructor.
Dunn began her employment with the department as a dispatcher with the Murfreesboro Emergency Communications Center. She became a certified officer in May 2019.
Police Chief Michael Bowen, Lieutenant Harry Haigh and Officer Levi Phillips were on hand as the team received the award.
“The Murfreesboro Police Department is proud of the Homeless Outreach Service Team’s dedication and hard work in serving the City of Murfreesboro,” Bowen said. “These officers are well-deserving of this award.”
The Homeless Outreach Service Team was nominated by Haigh because of its hard work in helping to combat homelessness in the City of Murfreesboro in such a short period of time.
“This unit came up with a game plan and strategy and have been quite successful working with homeless individuals,” Haigh said. “The team continues to have a positive impact on the homeless community, business owners and residents.”
Since February, HOST has helped several homeless individuals get into treatment, provided community resources, and assisted with temporary housing, and permanent housing for one person.
