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Nominated by the Connecticut Police Chiefs, Batlin was recognized as a leader who embodies the best of community policing.
“Officer Batlin has set the standard for community policing in Westport,” said First Selectman Jim Marpe.
Over the course of his 16-year career, Officer Batlin has worked to improve the relationship between the police and the community through many partnerships and collaborations.
He is a member of the Westport Youth Commission, which he was instrumental in creating. The Commission has held multiple events to bring police officers and kids together in a positive environment.
After the commission’s success, Batlin pioneered the Westport Police Youth Collaborative, a club for high school students and officers to work together on community service projects, team building and some instructional information about a career in law enforcement.
In the spring of 2017, Batlin was the program coordinator for the first-ever Westport Youth Citizens’ Police Academy.
He has also been an instrumental member of the Community Policing Panel and is the first patrol officer to be named president of the Police Athletic League in Westport. The Westport P.A.L. provides many organized sports for boys and girls as well as a host of other community-based programs.
In addition to being a football and lacrosse coach at the youth and high school level, many young children know Batlin as “Officer Friendly” who has spoken to their classes about what a police officer is and stranger danger.
Batlin has also sat on the Norwalk/Westport Juvenile Review Board, a diversionary program for juveniles, since its inception.
The award ceremony was held at the United States Attorney’s Office in New Haven on Oct. 25.
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