GPD creates new officer recognition program

The Gluckstadt Police Department introduced a new Officer of the Month award Tuesday night to honor officers who go above and beyond while serving the Lucky City. 

Gluckstadt Police Chief Wendell Watts launched the program last month and honored both the May and June recipients during the June 13 meeting. 

Sgt. Stephen Tucker received the award for May, and Sgt. Brian McCarty was recognized for June. 

“Stephen Tucker was nominated for the award due to all the investigations he solved over the last few months, and Brian McCarty was Top Cop,” Watts said. 

Watts said he wants to make sure GPD officers are recognized for what they do above and beyond their normal duties. 

“Stephen worked countless hours to solve a business burglary and other investigations he handled,” Watts said. “We were able to get suspects out of them and made arrests. Sgt. McCarty made 57 drug arrests since the inception of the department, and it’s been awesome watching him become such a narcotics officer. He’s making the arrests and getting drugs and guns off the street.” 

In other matters, the board: 

• Approved an amendment to Gluckstadt’s sign ordinance with a 3-2 vote. 

• Unanimously approved a conditional use permit for Joni’s House. 

• Unanimously approved the reduction of parking spaces for Home 2 Suites. 

• Unanimously approved the reduction of parking spaces for Springhill Suites. 

• Unanimously approved a site plan for Springhill Suites. 

• Unanimously approved the construction contract for the new police station and municipal court. 

• Unanimously approved a Cyber Insurance Coverage proposal from Scott Insurance Services. 

• Unanimously approved a new traffic calming policy. 

• Unanimously approved a request to increase Gluckstadt Fire Department Appropriation to $60,000 in FY24. 

• Unanimously approved a request from GPD to purchase an animal control vehicle. 

• Unanimously approved GPD’s request for Mayor’s authorization to access narcotics funds.