Spotlight on 12-Year-Old Billy Cook: A Person of Character Changing the World

It is a privilege to deliver my signature student presentation titled Be a Person of Character: Change the World to middle and high schools. The program is an honest assessment of challenges in contemporary society and encourages character. Character has a great impact on others and essential for transforming our lives and the nation.

On Thursday, December 12, 2013 a 12-year-old student named Billy Cook was honored by the North Jersey Regional Crime Prevention Officers Association (NJRCPOA) with the Exceptional Citizen Award. Billy collects baseballs and has them signed by community members and friends with kind sentiments and then sends them to U.S. Troops serving in Afghanistan. This profound gesture of patriotism, altruism and kindness serves as an example of character so critical to America.

Along with Billy Cook, additional honorees at our annual award event included:

Detective of the Year: Detective Sgt. John J. DeVoe, River Vale Police Department

Officer of the Year: Lt. Rich Skinner, Washington Township Police Department

Valor Award: Sgt. James Dalton, P.O. Joseph Ayoubi, P.O. Franklyn Bay, and P.O. Brett McCarthy, Hackensack Police Department

Exceptional Service: Director Eric Kanefsky, NJ Division of Consumer Affairs

Meritorious Service: P.O. James Acito, P.O. Ahmed Alagha, P.O. Ramon Cruz, P.O. Michael Dymek, Bergenfield Police Department

Detective Jeff Angermeyer of the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Criminal Investigation Squads is to be commended for his extraordinary leadership with this event and as President of the NJRCPOA.