By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Police Chief Ronald Haddad was honored as one of the Public Officials of the Year by Governing Magazine Oct. 27.
Haddad, who was named Dearborn Chief of Police in 2008, was one of eight officials in the country given the award. Others awarded included Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, Utah State Rep. Daniel Liljenquist and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.
A release from the magazine’s parent company, e.Republic, praised Haddad for his approach to resident awareness, stating that the city’s culture of “trust and civic engagement,” as well as a seven percent drop in crime in 2010, were keys to his success. The release also credits Haddad for the city’s approach to counter-terrorism, using community-based policing to increase awareness for extremists.
“Dearborn … boasts one of the most widely admired approaches to counter-terrorism – one pioneered by the city and state’s first Arab-American police chief,” the release states.
Haddad said he was happy to receive the honor, but deflected credit away from himself.
“Any success we achieve has to be achieved through the people (in the department),” he said. “Ultimately, I work real hard not to get in the way when they’re doing their job.”
Haddad was also featured in the magazine in August.
(Daniel Heraty can be reached at [email protected])