ATLANTA -- The 22nd Chief of Police for the City of Atlanta, Richard
J. Pennington, received the Major Cities Chiefs Association's Leadership
Award on Monday.
The award was given by Police Chief George
N. Turner and MCAA President, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles
Ramsey. Turner succeeded Pennington in 2010.
As reported by Carlos Campos of the APD,
the MCCA created the Lifetime Achievement Award to honor those members
who have who have contributed and improved policing throughout their
careers.
"Chief Pennington made an enormous impact on public
safety, not just here in Atlanta, but everywhere he served," Chief
Turner said. "I'm proud and honored to walk in his footsteps."
Campos
said Pennington started his work with the Washington, D.C. Police
Department, and worked his way to Assistant Chief. Next, he became Chief
of the New Orleans Police Department in 1994. In 2002, he was named Chief of the APD.
During
that time, he used a computer system to start an initiative called
"COBRA," Command Operations Briefing to Revitalize Atlanta. The APD uses
this program today to help reduce crime in neighborhoods. Also with
Pennington's work, the APD was accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.