MARYLAND STATE POLICE 2010 TROOPER AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR ANNOUNCED

(PIKESVILLE, MD) -- Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan today announced the statewide 2010 Trooper of the Year and Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the Department.

In a ceremony that recognized the local winners from each barrack and division, Colonel Sheridan congratulated Trooper First Class Robert G. Iman, who won Trooper of the Year and Sergeant John D. Vanhoy, who won Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year. TFC Iman is assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and Sgt. Vanhoy supervises the Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, comprised of troopers and officers from the Metropolitan Police Department.

“Both troopers exemplify the highest standards of integrity, dedication to duty, and public service to the people of Maryland,” Colonel Sheridan said. “Sgt. Vanhoy’s supervision and leadership resulted in hundreds of dangerous felons, many of them fugitives, being located and arrested. TFC Iman personally identified hundreds of unsafe commercial vehicles on our roads last year and, while doing so, made more than 30 criminal arrests that included fugitives and felons. They both have helped to perpetuate the outstanding reputation and tradition built by the state troopers who have come before them during the past 90 year history of the Maryland State Police.”

The following narratives describe some of the work of TFC Iman and Sgt. Vanhoy during 2010 which led to their awards today:

TROOPER FIRST CLASS ROBERT G. “BOB” IMAN
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION

Trooper First Class Iman has been nominated by his peers, coworkers and supervisors in recognition of his effective investigative and communication skills, sustained superior performance and selfless dedication to duty.

In 2010, Trooper First Class Iman issued 804 citations and $253,980 in enforcement related fines, including 20 alcohol violations and drunk driving arrests and 15 suspended or revoked drivers. He conducted more than 400 commercial vehicle inspections and placed 331 of those vehicles and drivers, or 81 percent of the vehicles he inspected, out of service. He also made 32 criminal arrests that included a wide variety of fugitives and felons.

One investigation was the result of his curiosity and systematic follow up of what started as a routine traffic stop and safety inspection. His investigation uncovered stolen items being sold as scrap for cash. He organized a covert surveillance, studied jailhouse interviews, reviewed video surveillance tape, used GPS tracking and authored and served search warrants. TFC Iman’s work resulted in the arrests and convictions of several members of the same family who were involved in a long-running theft ring that operated in three counties and Baltimore City.

In another investigation, TFC Iman found four stolen motorcycles in an unoccupied RV. He worked diligently to identify the RV driver and ultimately developed an informant who helped him uncover the identity of a number of suspects involved in an organized sport bike theft ring.

TFC Iman accepted the challenge of competing as the CVED representative in the 2010 Maryland Commercial Vehicle Inspector’s Competition, in which inspectors from all law enforcement agencies compete.

He won that competition easily and then placed in the top ten in the North American Inspectors Competition competing against the best inspectors from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He was also named the Maryland Motor Truck Association Inspector of the Year for 2010.

According to Sergeant Duane Pearce, “the value of TFC Iman as a state trooper when considering reliability, competence, thoroughness, dependability, leadership, unwavering motivation, and his continued practice of placing the needs of the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and the State Police ahead of his own can only be described as immeasurable.”

SERGEANT JOHN D. VANHOY
CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
CAPITAL AREA REGIONAL FUGITIVE TASK FORCE

Sgt. John Vanhoy is the group supervisor of a team of troopers and Metropolitan Police Department officers assigned to a warrant fugitive unit working the Prince George’s County area. Sgt. Vanhoy and his team continue to exceed goals and expectations.

In 2010, the team closed almost 800 warrants and arrested nearly 500 felony fugitives, who were wanted for all times of major crimes, including murder, armed robbery, rape, and child abuse. A majority of those arrested had extensive criminal histories, including violent crimes.

In 2010, Sgt. Vanhoy was personally responsible for closing nearly one hundred cases and making 54 arrests. He takes on the more complicated cases so his team can serve more warrants.
He assisted the entire task force with 241 cases that resulted in 137 fugitive arrests. He also provided manpower support to the US Marshal’s Service task force.

One of several ‘high priority’ cases he was assigned last year was a cold case homicide from Wicomico County. All he had was a suspect name. He tracked the person to Texas, located addresses for family members, and, with the help of the US Marshal’s service, the accused murderer was arrested within two days.

Two other cases involved murders in St. Mary’s County. Sgt. Vanhoy had both suspects tracked down and arrested outside of St. Mary’s County within 48 hours of the murders.

He does all of this while still completing the administrative requirements of supervising the task force and daily providing statistical information about task force activities. Sgt. Vanhoy also assisted the State Police Academy firearms training unit as an instructor. He was the officer in charge of the southern region and was responsible for training about 200 troopers.

In his nomination, Sgt. Thomas Quade said this: “During 2010, Sgt. Vanhoy continued to maintain the highest level of professionalism and dedication to the Department. His willingness to assist any member or division and to also complete any task has not gone unnoticed. In addition to the extra responsibilities, he successfully led and maintained the appropriate paperwork for the task force. He meets all deadlines before the required date…Sgt. Vanhoy completes a large amounts of these tasks on his own time, in order to meet deadlines and not disrupt daily operations. He consistently displays pride in his work while representing the Maryland State Police.”