The Eastern District of the Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACPD) held their annual Community Relations Council Awards Ceremony Wednesday night to honor several public servants as well as to name the 2010 'Officer of the Year' and 'Detective of the Year.'

State delegates and members of the community attended the event held at the station located on Mountain Road in Pasadena. 

Opening remarks were given by the Council's President, Reserve Officer Josiah Elliot, and continued with the presentation of awards to the nominees for the 'Officer of the Year' award.

Out of the more than 100 officers that serve the area, those who received nominations for the award included Cpl. Larry Martin, and officers Richard Furrow, and Luke Ringler.

The officer that was awarded the prestigious title this year was Cpl. Paul Stammer.

Stammer has been a member of the AACPD for more than 11 years and in 2010 alone has issued more than 600 citations and has made 73 criminal lockups, the most in the Eastern District, according to Sgt. Thomas Newman.

Capt. David D. Waltemeyer Jr., commanding officer at the Eastern District, said that Stammer earned the award through dedication to the community and to the force.

"It's basically his consistent work through the year that sets him apart from the other officers," Waltemeyer said. "Which is difficult, because all the officers do good police work on a daily basis."

Stammer explained that winning the award came as a surprise.

"I don't feel that I did anything out of the ordinary, that any of the other officers didn't do," Stammer said. "They deserve it just as much as I do."

The award for "Detective of the Year" went to Eric Love.

Love has been a member of the AACPD for 20 years and has been a detective for the Eastern District for the last 8 years.  He has also served as an acting sergeant and a field trainer for the district detective unit, according to Capt. Waltemeyer.

Lt. Herbert H. Hasenpusch, executive officer for the Eastern District, said that Love, like the other nominated officers, is extremely valuable to the department.

"His skills in interviewing and his background in forensics and evidence collection make him such an asset to the Eastern District and to the citizens," Hasenpusch said. "Just like all these other guys."

Love was equally humble about the honor, saying that the recognition should go beyond him to the other officers and detectives in his squad.

"It's not just here, it's a team effort between everybody in my unit," Love said. "It is, however, satisfying to be rewarded for all the work we do. It's really nice to be honored."