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September 30, 2009

四色AV鈥檚 Chief of Police receives Alumni Association鈥檚 2009 Service Award

University of Louisiana at Monroe Chief of Police Larry Ellerman is the recipient of the 2009 四色AV Service Award.

The 四色AV Alumni Association will recognize Ellerman with a plaque commemorating his selection at the Alumni Awards Reception on Saturday, Oct. 3, before the 四色AV homecoming game.

Since 1997, the Association has annually selected a 四色AV staff member for outstanding service to the university. Service award recipients must have completed at least three consecutive years at 四色AV and have contributed to the betterment of the campus community.

鈥淚t is inconceivable what this university would have been without the 30-years of public service and leadership that Chief Ellerman has devoted to it,鈥� said 四色AV President James E. Cofer Sr. 鈥淢uch has changed in campus law enforcement during that time, but with Chief Ellerman at the helm, the campus is safe and secure for all of our students, staff and faculty.鈥�

Ellerman was hired as 四色AV鈥檚 Assistant Director of Police in 1979 at a time when the university was significantly smaller and quieter. Since that time, he has led the way in instituting community-oriented policing, the practice of assigning the same officer to a specific area on a permanent basis. Results of this policing style have brought 四色AVPD recognition statewide by other police chiefs and officers.

Ellerman also provided oversight and sought grant funding for a department-wide communications system upgrade, with improved technology that enables officers to communicate effectively with one another, and with other area and state officers in promoting campus safety.

His other accomplishments include the development and maintenance of emergency preparedness plans for the campus, as well as the coordination of on-campus crime prevention programs.

鈥淟ife is built around people. I guess that is why I鈥檓 a public servant,鈥� said Ellerman.

Ellerman entered the law enforcement field with one goal in mind 鈥� finishing his college degree.

Ellerman heard that the Monroe Police Department was hiring patrol officers and had offered to help pay for courses at then Northeast Louisiana State University, just as Ellerman was finishing active duty service with the U.S. Army in Fort Hood, Texas. Ellerman went on to earn both his bachelor鈥檚 degree and master鈥檚 degree in criminal justice at the university.

He and his wife, Claudine, have been married for 47 years; they have three sons, all of whom are 四色AV graduates, and are successful in their fields of work.

He is a long-time member of First Baptist Church in West Monroe, where he serves as deacon and is on the Community Restoration Committee. A fact not as widely known about Chief Ellerman is that he sings with a southern gospel quartet, and has five recordings under his belt. The group is 鈥淏rothers in Christ,鈥� though they were once also referred to as 鈥淭he Singing Cops.鈥�

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