Iowa City police officer gets award

Iowa City Police Officer Dennis Kelly is now the 10th officer to be awarded the 2009 Richard W. “Dick” Lee Award.

The award - established in 1999 to honor the life work of Captain Dick Lee who served for over 30 years - is meant to reflect qualities that include professionalism, compassion for citizens and other officers and unique and effective ways of accomplishing objective.

Kelly officially received the award from Iowa City Mayor Matt Hayek during Monday's City Council meeting.

He has been an officer since September 2005 and has an outstanding work ethic and is always there to assist co-workers with their duties, according to Sgt. Denise Brotherton in a news release.

“He treats others with respect and is compassionate in his dealings with those who are less fortunate or have been the victims of crime,” she said. “His integrity and ability to teach other has led to his assignment as a Field Training Officer to instruct new police officers.”

Kelly's name will be added to the Richard W. “Dick” Lee Award plaque on permanent display within the Iowa City Police Department.