D.A.R.E Officers Receives Sam Walker Lifetime Achievement Award

From left to right: Corporal Michael P. Bomgardner, Riley Bomgardner, and wife, Nickie Bomgardner.

On Wednesday April 4, Corporal Michael P. Bomgardner was awarded the prestigious “Sam Walker Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Maryland State D.A.R.E. conference/in-service training in Ocean City.  

Corporal Bomgardner, an eighteen year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, has been a D.A.R.E. instructor for the last eight years and teaches new D.A.R.E. instructors in Maryland and Virginia. Corporal Bomgardner is a mentor for the Maryland State D.A.R.E. Office and past president of the Maryland D.A.R.E. Officers Association.

The Sam Walker award is awarded annually to an officer nominated by his or her agency. Those nominations are reviewed by a panel consisting of former recipients of the award and a final selection is made.

There are generally four to five nominees from across the state annually.