From the Apopka Police Department
Congratulations to Officer Robert Campbell of the Apopka Police Department for being named 2021 Officer of the Year.
The APD released the following statement about Campbell:
"The Apopka Police Department and its individual members will, without favor or prejudice, work cooperatively with the public to provide a safe community and strive to heighten the quality of life for all citizens. The Department’s Vision is that we, the members of the Apopka Police Department, are committed to leadership, excellence, providing progressive and pro-active services, developing community-oriented partnerships and building for the bright future.
There is one officer that comes to mind that spent the year 2021 achieving these standards over and over. That officer is Robert Campbell.
First and foremost, Officer Campbell, who is a 14-year veteran with the agency, is currently assigned to the 500 squad in the Field Services Division. As part of his regularly assigned duties, Officer Campbell, as of November 2021, has responded to 1,106 calls for service and has completed 126 reports. He also currently leads the patrol in cases cleared by arrest, with 58 of the (approximately) 810 total cleared by arrest cases.
Officer Campbell has authored numerous arrests and search warrants relating to his cases. Officer Campbell serves as an FTO and assisted with training at least four recruits this year. He is routinely reached out to by his co-workers for advice, direction, and help.
Officer Campbell has never shied to assist other squads with manning, as he has come in early or stayed late numerous times to ensure there were an adequate number of officers available to the citizens of Apopka. In fact, during a time when numerous officers were sick with COVID-19, Officer Campbell was willing to come in on his day off to assist the 600 squad with staffing to meet the minimum manning requirements.
Officer Campbell has participated in community outreach, most notably speaking to a local Boy Scout Troop in Longwood. Officer Campbell also attended the Bola Wrap Train the Trainer course in his own free time because he desired to help the agency with instruction. With this, Officer Campbell was able to train most of the patrol on the functions of the Bola Wrap.
As Officer Campbell has become an expert in the field of DUI investigations, most of the arrests as noted above are DUI arrests. Officer Campbell, through working grants provided by the Department of Transportation, worked 100’s of hours to ensure the motoring public within the City of Apopka were safe from impaired drivers. However, his expertise did not just stop there.
This year, Officer Campbell furthered his training by becoming certified as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Instructor. Because of this, Officer Campbell was able to take his knowledge and experience in DUI enforcement and helped train other officers across the State in investigating DUIs. Officer Campbell became an adjunct instructor with the Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM) and taught multiple DUI/DRE-related classes in Orlando, Altamonte Springs, Windermere, Clermont, Lakeland, Cape Coral, and Jacksonville. Officer Campbell also took his years of experience to the Valencia Criminal Justice Academy, where he is also an adjunct instructor.
In the year 2021, as a Drug Recognition Expert, Officer Campbell participated in thirty-four Drug Influence Evaluations to determine if a subject was impaired, and if so and not medically related, which drug category they were impaired by. Nine evaluations were enforcement-related subsequent to the subject being arrested for DUI, and Twenty-five evaluations were training-related as Officer Campbell was the supervising Instructor for Field Certifications. For his experience and work as a Drug Recognition Expert, Officer Campbell was selected by the Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Program in July 2021 as the 2020 Florida Drug Recognition Expert of the Year. Although his work as a DRE Instructor has brought a positive image to the Apopka Police Department through his representation at the various events, we cannot forget to mention how Officer Campbell has helped this agency, and its members, through his willingness to work.
In June, Officer Campbell answered the request to work in the Department’s Communications Center as a dispatcher of the Apopka Police channels. By him doing this, Officer Campbell was able to help with staffing and was able to provide relief to the overworked dispatchers so they could have a night off. In 2021, Officer Campbell has demonstrated great fortitude, superior initiative, determination, and thoroughness in the performance of his duties. He has truly helped the Apopka Police Department with its operations to provide the highest level of service to the citizens, in providing a safe community to heighten the quality of life for those who live and work in Apopka."
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