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WATCH: Second District Officer Receives VFW Manuel Curry Recognition Award

by Ambria R. Washington

April 22, 2017

Categories: Announcement, On Duty, Videos

Topics: Good Police Work, Second District

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8973 has started a new annual tradition within its organization to award one NOPD officer with the Manuel Curry Award.

NOPD Second District officer Tiwana Conway was the first officer to be presented with the award this week for her work as school resource officer.

“I feel honored,” said Conway.  “I’m extremely happy to find out that this is going to be the beginning of awards in his name.”

Former NOPD officer Manuel Curry, for whom the award is named, served the city of New Orleans for more than 63 years. Curry was the longest-serving, active-duty, officer in the country,  most recently working in the NOPD's Sixth District. He was also a veteran who served in World War II. Curry passed away in 2009.

Second District Commander Shaun Ferguson and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8973 Commander Doug Thomas presented the award during the organization's meeting Thursday night at the Grit Bar.  Thomas read a recommendation letter written by officer Conway’s supervisor, Sgt. Shawn Summers. 

“We thank you for acknowledging our Sgt. Curry,” said Ferguson while speaking to members of the post. “Everyone loved him and everyone respected him, and it was a big blow when we lost him. He taught a lot of us.”

Summers nominated Conway for the recognition/safety award for exemplifying the role of community policing. Conway has been an officer with the NOPD for 12 years, and has been assigned to the Second District as a School Resource Officer for eight years.  

"Officer Conway selflessly gives her time to not only be a the school resource officer and a New Orleans Police officer but also mother of five," said Summers.  “She, on several occasions, has taken it upon herself to purchase clothes and shoes along with doing other small acts of kindness for various students she encounters during the day.” 

Although Conway is responsible for maintaining order in both charter and public schools within the Second District community,  Summers says she has created great trustworthy relationships by listening to the concerns of the students, staff and faculty she serves.

“Officer Conway has strong support from the faculty and staff at the schools she serves,”  Summers said.  “Some principals from the various schools communicate with her directly for advice on a professional as well as a personal level. They feel confident in her ability to treat them fair and trust her judgement from a law enforcement perspective.”

Over the years, Conway has coordinated many school activities to help spark healthy dialogues among youth and police officers. She has also obtained several departmental certifications in the NOPD's D.A.R.E and Crisis Intervention Training programs.