The Arlington Police Department received the 2016 International Association of Chiefs of Police Michael Shanahan Award for Excellence in Public/Private Partnerships. The Mentoring Arlington Youth (MAY) Program was selected for this prestigious honor.

The idea behind the Mentoring Arlington Youth program began years ago when Police Lt. Tarrick McGuire was a patrol officer. One particular encounter with a young man he was arresting for drugs led to the development of a mentoring program for adolescent males.

During the transport to the city jail, the young man being arresting explained that he had a girlfriend who was about to give birth to their child. Tarrick talked to the young man about the power of choice and his potential in life. He later learned that his message was received.

The young man approached Tarrick and told him he was back in school, had a job and was caring for his young family. Lt. McGuire recalls that encounter often as he talks with officers and the community about the importance of mentoring. At the core of this program is the department's partnership with Arlington ISD and the Arlington Municipal Court.

The award was presented to several team members that oversee the MAY Program during IACP's Annual Conference in San Diego. "I am so extremely proud of our team that is making a positive impact in the lives of our young people," said Police Chief Will Johnson. "This private/public partnership is essential to the future of our community."

This award, in honor of Chief Michael Shanahan (Retired), who served the University of Washington Police Department for 24 years before retiring in 1995, seeks to recognize outstanding achievements in the development and implementation of Public/Private Cooperation in the Public Safety.

Chief Shanahan made significant contributions to world-wide public safety serving as the Co-Chair of the IACP Private Sector Liaison Committee (PSLC) from 1985 to 1999. Under his leadership the PSLC focused on solutions to critical public/private sector issues such as product tampering, drugs in the workplace, guidelines for non-sworn responders to alarms, workplace and school violence, and hiring and training guidelines for security guards.

Chief Shanahan was the chair of the IACP's State Association of Chiefs of Police (SACOP), 1983-1989. He remains a highly respected national leader, innovator, and advocate, who recognized the critical importance of public/private partnerships in enhancing an individual community's public safety and the accumulative positive impact such collaborative actions have on protecting the vital interests of a community. The Security Industry Association (SIA) is the sole corporate sponsor of the award.