North Olmsted Police Officer Glen Adamson displays the plaque given to him by Ken Klayer, right, president of the D.A.R.E. Association of Ohio, as the top D.A.R.E officer in Ohio. The duo was at a Cincinnati Reds game where Adamson was honored and got to throw out the first pitch. (Photo courtesy of Sandy Scherler)

Officer receives top state honor
By Jeff Gallatin
North Olmsted
Published Sept. 2, 2009

Veteran North Olmsted Policeman Glen Adamson recently received thanks for all the home runs he hit in 14 years as a D.A.R.E. officer for the city.

Adamson was selected as D.A.R.E. officer of the year for the state of Ohio. He was nominated by other D.A.R.E. officers in Cuyahoga County for the award. In addition to receiving a plaque for the Larry R. Cox Memorial Award, he was recognized for his work with the drug abuse resistance program at a Cincinnati Reds-Washington Nationals baseball game and threwout the ceremonial first pitch.

“I was pretty nervous about it,” Adamson said. “I didn’t want to bounce it up there, but I threw a strike over the plate. I had taken a little kidding about how I might do because the governor and the mayor of Cincinnati hadn’t thrown the ball for a strike. I was kind of glad that part was over.”

Adamson said he had tried to prepare for his pitching outing by warming up.

“I couldn’t find anybody to warm up with initially,” he said. “I asked some people but couldn’t find anybody right away.”

Appropriately enough, Adamson said, he finally got a 10 or 11 –year old boy there to help get his arm ready.

“That definitely helped,” he said.

Adamson said he also wanted to say thanks and recognize the other D.A.R.E. officers and citizens who nominated and gave him the award.

“There was a group of us seated together at the game, so when I went out to be recognized, I pointed to them up in stands to recognize them for what they do,” he said. “I appreciate what they did for me and the fact that they thought I deserved that kind of honor.”

Both state and city officials said Adamson is very deserving of the state award.

“He is very well recognized and respected by the different officers,” said Lloyd Bratz, regional director for the Ohio D.A.R.E. group. “Glen has been very active in the association. I’ve seen him with other officers and kids, and they all respond to him and how he cares about what’s going on.”

Retired North Olmsted City Schools Teacher Sandy Scherler, who taught at Pine School and worked with Adamson on the program, praised him.

“All the kids just loved him,” she said. “When he walked into a room they would run up and hug him, latch onto his legs and let him know how much they care about him too.”

Scherler said Adamson’s caring showed all 14 years he taught the program to elementary students in North Olmsted. Drug abuse education in the city schools has been taken over by the school district this year.

“It will be a great loss to the students in North Olmsted not to have ‘Officer A’ greet them this year as they begin school,” she said. “He is respected and loved by his fellow teachers, parents and students. He led by example and encouraged many of his students to choose the attitude “Just say no” to drugs and violence.”

Adamson’s personable ways helped the city and department as well, Scherler said.

“He made the police department and the policemen approachable by the public,” she said.

Scherler reminded people to let him know they appreciate him when they see him.

“He’s a true ‘knight in shining armor’ kind of guy,” she said. “He’s always willing to help people out, and he’s a credit to his department.”

Captain Kevin Whelan, the operations officer for the North Olmsted Police Department, said he’s not surprised by the award.

“It shows the respect everyone has for Glen and the work he’s done over the years,” Whelan said. “He worked very hard to make sure all those kids knew right from wrong. He was always there for them and they knew that. It made a difference to them.”

Whelan said other departments and officers also respect Adamson for all his police work, D.A.R.E. and otherwise.

“He does a good job with whatever he does as an officer,” Whelan said.