| (December 9, 1998) Mayor Don Plusquellic today presented his
Distinguished Service Award to five Akron police officers who were honored last week in
Columbus by the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association as Ohio's Outstanding Peace
Officers of the Year. During his weekly news conference, held this week at Quaker Square
downtown, the mayor recognized the outstanding work of Lt. Elizabeth A. Daugherty, Lt.
Mary E. Myers, Lt. Ed Duvall, Jr., Lt. Paul Calvaruso and Capt. Craig V. Gilbride. The
five officers investigated the November 1997 murder of Akron physician Dr. Margo Prade and
eventually arrested her former husband Capt. Douglas Prade, an Akron police officer, and
charged him in the case. Prade was convicted of the crime September 23 and sentenced to 26
years to life in prison.
Mayor Plusquellic told reporters, "I am extremely proud of the example set by
these officers, and the more than one dozen others who investigated the murder of Dr.
Prade. Internal investigations such as this present a unique and demanding test for police
officers and their families."
Police Chief Edward Irvine added, "It's never easy watching officers you have
worked along side for so many years go through the process of investigating a fellow
officer in a capital crime. These men and women performed their jobs admirably and
honorably under difficult conditions for the better part of a year. The community should
be proud."
Officers of the Akron Police Department also won the OPAA award in 1997 for another
internal investigation that led to the conviction and dismissal of a fellow officer. |
