Police Honor 44-Year Department Veteran, Name Officers of the Year

When Steven Finck joined the Anne Arundel County Police Department, Richard Nixon was in his first year as Commander in Chief.

So as Finck, 61, stood among the police chief and the department's best investigators at Michael's Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie Tuesday night, he was by far the most tenured officer in the room.

It was September 1969 when Finck became a department rookie, and last night, Police Chief Larry Tolliver recognized his 44 years of service–the most in department history.

Finck was promoted to sergeant in 1985, and again promoted to lieutenant in 1991. He has worked in three of the department's four districts and in the criminal investigation division, according to a statement from the police department.

"Lieutenant Finck has received letters of appreciation and gratitude for his exceptional service and his outstanding representation of our agency," said Chief Tolliver, during the ceremony. "As a supervisor, he has trained and mentored countless officers and takes great pride seeing their development and growth."

Tolliver awarded Finck with the Chief's Award for Job Excellence, personally selected by the chief himself. Finck announced his retirement this year, according to department spokesperson Justin Mulcahy.

Tolliver also gave Chief's Awards to 23-year department veteran Corporal Richard Herard, and civilian employee Christine Ryder.

The department recognized the following police officers of the year from each district and division:

• Detective Ted Giunta – Northern District
• PFC Erick Patterson – Eastern District
• Officer Joshua Shapiro – Southern District
• Detective Ryan Holliday – Western District
• Detective Jack Hartzell – Criminal Investigation Division
• Corporal Todd Betz – Special Operations Division

Nearly 100 more officers, civilian employees and community members were also honored at the ceremony, for contributions to investigations and advancing causes for the police department.