SRO Barlow earns police officer of the year award

HAMILTON, N.J. — Married with five children, this local officer has gone above and beyond the call of duty for his community.

Officer David Barlow of the Hamilton Township Police Department has earned this year’s distinction as Officer of the Year award because of his exceptional service to people of all ages in the community.

“He’s truly a community officer,” said David McWilliam, retired principal of Hamilton High West.

Barlow has held several positions in the community and has received numerous other awards over his 24 years of service with the township’s police department.

He is currently a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Hamilton High West for the past 14 years.

“He’s the kind of guy that makes our school feels safe,” said McWilliam.

Barlow even extends himself beyond his locale, he explains.

“When 9/11 happened, he was one of the first police officers to go to New York City to help other officers and firefighters. When (Hurricane) Sandy happened, he went down the shore to help relieve other police officers,” he stated.

Apart from being a senior police officer, Barlow is also a past fire commissioner at the Whitehorse Fire Company and a life member of Whitehorse Volunteer Fire Department.

A 1983 graduate of Steinert High School, he was owner of Hamilton Auto Body from 1986-89. He was a correction officer at New Jersey State Prison from 1989-94.

He has also been a Field Training Officer; spent two years as an undercover narcotics officer; and 18 years with the Hamilton HAZ-MAT Team.

Over the years, he has received several service awards from the Hamilton Township Police Department. These include:

• Two Grand Cordon awards for apprehending dangerous suspects
• Two Meritorious Service awards for pulling victims from fire and evacuating residents from
building fire.
• Two Exceptional Duty medals for apprehending car and house burglary suspects
• Two Life-Saving medals for saving drowning babies
• Award for 20 years of good conduct
• An Honorable Service award for evacuating residents from a smoking apartment building.

And after more than 14 years without an award, a group of Barlow’s peers from the police department have now selected him for the Officer of the Year honor that will culminate in a ceremony that was held at the Kiwanis Club of Hamilton Twp.

“This is a big honor for me,” said Barlow.

“You’re not doing the job for the awards, but it’s definitely an honor to receive them. I only wear the badges to funerals, etc., “ he said.

Barlow said his job is very rewarding and that he has not have any problems. He explains that in the light of police brutality and with police officers wearing cameras these days, “if you are not doing anything wrong, there is nothing to worry about.”

Yesterday, the Kiwanis Club hosted the 43rd Annual Hank Leverence Police Officer of the Year Award Banquet honoring Officer Barlow at the Ancient Order of the Hibernians Hall on Kuser Road.