Amherst’s William Laramee Recipient Of The Richard Werenski Police Officer Of The Year Award

Source: amherstma.gov

Amherst Police Officer William Laramee was awarded the Richard Werenski Officer of the Year Award by the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association at their annual winter awards meeting on December 7.

The Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association established this award “to recognize a Police Officer in Western Massachusetts who has demonstrated within his or her department, the highest standards of professional conduct, and diligence to duty, loyalty, honesty, and integrity as a Police Officer.  The recipient should be a Police Officer who is respected by other Police Officers, respectful to his or her superiors and compassionate with the public.  The recipient should accomplish tasks in the best interests of the Department and the community, and have the initiative to solve problems, the initiative to address situations before they become problems, and be a model of the law enforcement code of ethics.”

The award was presented by Chief Scott P. Livingstone and Eric P. Gillis, President of the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.  During the presentation, Chief Livingstone stated that “Officer Laramee since joining the Amherst Police Department has been indispensable in filling a myriad of roles within the department throughout his career.”  

During his tenure Officer Laramee founded the Amherst Police Youth Adventure Academy, a very successful summer program for Amherst youth. In 2020, he introduced the concept and founded the department’s Comfort Dog Program.  Officer Laramee and his chocolate Labrador partner, Winston, work together providing comfort, support, and community outreach on a daily basis. He is the department’s officer in charge of the bicycle unit and an international trainer for the International Police Mountain Bike Association. He serves as the neighborhood liaison officer working in partnership with community stakeholders and area colleges conducting outreach and addressing quality of life issues to promote the safety and well-being of the student population and entire Amherst Community. Officer Laramee is the department’s liaison to The Strategic Partnership for Families and Youth Coalition whose mission is to help communities reduce risk factors that make it more likely youth will engage in unhealthy behaviors, while increasing protective factors that encourage them to make healthy choices.  In addition, Officer Laramee oversees the department’s physical fitness program. 

Laramee has been a patrol officer for the town of Amherst since 1995 and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Castleton University and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Western New England University.