Every month the Dallas Community Police Awards Committee recognizes and honors one Dallas Police officer for their exemplary performance and civic involvement. Officer LaSharon Watson from the Northeast Patrol Division was recognized as the Officer of the Month for May 2017. Officer Watson has been on the department for 8 years and has received several commendations and awards for her outstanding work, including a Life Saving Award when she rescued a suicidal woman from jumping off a bridge. 

Officer Watson not only works hard on duty, but she plays hard in her off time as a girls youth basketball coach. Officer Watson’s passion for basketball started when she was in high school playing on the varsity team as a freshman. She played basketball through college and even played for a semi-pro team in the Dallas Women Blue Chip Basketball League. Officer Watson has volunteered for 8 years as a coach for the DC Queens basketball organization. Currently, she is the coach of the number one fifth grade team in the country. She has become such a strong mentor to these young girls and even invited them as her guests to the award ceremony. Officer Watson also volunteers for the Police Athletic League and participates in the Guns-and-Hoses events. 

In his nomination letter for Officer Watson, Lieutenant Rickey Lewis wrote, “A police officer must be able to connect with the community we serve beyond the boundaries of enforcing the law. We may only get paid for time on the clock, but we truly operate twenty-four hours daily. I believe Officer Watson epitomizes all the above, and for that reason I proudly nominate her for Officer of the Year.” 

Congratulations Officer Watson! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our community.