The Patapsco Council of the Knights of Columbus honored Wilkens Station police officer Mohammed Goff on May 8 as its police officer of the year.
"We always like to see that the best policeman in the area is honored in some way," said Timothy McCarthy, culture of life director at the Patapsco council.
The organization recognizes a member of the local police station as its officer of the year on a semi-regular basis. Goff will be the first to receive the award since 2012, said McCarthy, and the timing couldn't be better.
"These are people who risk everything for us on a regular basis," McCarthy said.
A retired parole agent, he said the process of selecting an officer began back in January, but the recent events in Baltimore City, where more than 100 police officers were reported injured in the demonstrations surrounding the death of Freddie Gray, and in New York City, where an on-duty officer died May 4 after being shot in the head, make the award all the more important.
When the decision was made to honor an officer this year, the council went to the Wilkens Police Station and asked for a list of policemen and policewomen who have stood out in the past year for their commitment to the community and their dedication to their work as Baltimore County police officers.
The council then reviewed the list, along with biographies and career summaries for each of the officers, and took a vote. The decision to acknowledge Officer Goff, McCarthy said, was unanimous.
"There wasn't any question that we picked the right person," he said.
Goff, who joined the department in 2009, has two master's degrees. He caught the attention of his supervisors with his enthusiasm for the job and his meticulous approach, McCarthy said. By taking a fresh look and going over the smallest of details in some cases, McCarthy said, Goff was able to close several cases that had been lingering around the station.
"He is very thorough," McCarthy said. "He doesn't leave anything to chance."
Goff, for his part, said his passion for the job has not waned over the course of his more than five years at the local police station.
For three years after graduating from Towson University in 2009, Goff worked for a private company doing accounting. The money was great and his air miles were substantial, he said, but he wanted be out in the community helping people.
"I've always kind of had a thing where I wanted to help and do stuff," he said.
Today, he works the night shift from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., patrolling northwestern Catonsville. While some people may shy from night work, Goff loves it.
"Patrol is just so much fun in itself," he said. "There's just something unique about being the only one up at night hunting the bad guys."
"He signed up for extra roles and extra services," said Bernie Wrisk, deputy grand knight of the Patapsco council, of Goff, adding that Goff has often taken the extra step for the community. He's "much more than the average Joe."
Goff was to be presented with a plaque in recognition of his service last week as part of a ceremony that also coincided with the Knights of Columbus Council's annual A Night Out With Mom event, which invites families to take their mother out for a night of dining and entertainment ahead of Mother's Day.
The event was to feature performances by Dave Thomen, a Hampstead-based magician, and the Cherelles, an all-female musical ensemble that donates all of its proceeds to the Linwood Center to benefit those living with autism.
"We thought this would be a nice family-focused chance to get this officer some recognition," said Wrisk. "There's so much negativity and wrongness just in this world ... anything and everything positive is really needed."