ISELIN, N.J. – Sergeant Kenneth Metz of Aberdeen, N.J., has been named the Amtrak Police Department’s Officer of the Year. Sergeant Metz received this prestigious, nationwide award in recognition of his many contributions to the corporation and the department. He has displayed exemplary performance of his duties.
Sergeant Metz began his career with the Amtrak Police Department in 1990, working uniformed patrol in New York and New Jersey. Sergeant Metz was recently promoted to his current rank and is assigned to patrol duty in the New York Division.
"Sergeant Metz has maintained a consistent and diligent effort to provide the best police work possible through exemplary service and dedication to duty over his years with Amtrak Police," said Amtrak’s Chief of Police Sonya Proctor. "We are extremely proud to count Ken among the Amtrak Police Department’s finest."
An awards ceremony was held at the Hilton Woodbridge in Iselin, N.J. earlier today. Among the guests at the ceremony honoring Sergeant Metz were family members from the New Jersey area, fellow Amtrak Police Officers, and several Amtrak dignitaries including Chief of Police Sonya Proctor and Al Broadbent, Vice President of Security who presented Sergeant Metz with commendations from New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, New Jersey Senators Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, and New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.
Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Amtrak Police Department was authorized by Congress in September 1974 and employs 300 sworn peace officers and 81 civilians in 32 field locations across the country. Amtrak officers have four main areas of responsibility: stations, trains, railroad right of way, and maintenance facilities.
In fiscal year 2005, Amtrak served more than 25.4 million passengers, representing the third straight fiscal year of record ridership. An average of more than 69,000 passengers ride on up to 300 Amtrak trains per day.
