At a Fall 2024 ceremony, Corporal Abbey Kipke was selected as Greenbelt Police Department’s (GPD) Officer of the Year. It’s an annual honor conferred by the department, which also selects a detective and civilian of the year. This year Detective Oscar Rodas-Flores was named Investigator of the Year and Neshia Cabrera-Pearson is Civilian of the Year. The three were recognized in July by the Police Chiefs Association of Prince George’s County.
GPD lauded their outstanding dedication to their duties. “Their efforts have significantly contributed to improving our agency and the community we serve,” said the department through a Facebook post.
This month the News Review was able to talk with Kipke about the honor and her work at GPD. She said she was both surprised and humbled when she learned of her recognition. “It honestly took my breath away a little,” she said. “It just felt like all my hard work wasn’t going to waste, people were seeing it.”
Kipke has served in Greenbelt for six years and currently works with the traffic unit as a night officer, supervising seven other officers. She was part of an effort to relaunch Greenbelt’s Crash Reconstruction Unit, which investigates serious and fatal accidents. She also teaches traffic law and DUI enforcement at the Prince George’s Police Academy, a specialty that has become a passion in her career.
Kipke initially studied to become an EMT but changed course after doing a ride-along with Lt. Michael Apgar of GPD and has loved serving Greenbelt as an officer ever since. She was promoted to corporal in May.
“I couldn’t imagine myself doing anything else,” said Kipke. “Greenbelt has a small-town, family feel, you get to know the people that you’re serving.”
Kipke’s favorite parts of the job are connecting with and building trust in the Greenbelt community. She says the best way to connect with people as an officer is to simply be herself.
“I don’t change who I am. I’m the same person once I put this uniform on that I am when I take it off. I like to laugh, have a good time and joke with people,” Kipke said.
For Kipke, the recognition is not only personal but also a reflection of her department’s culture.
“I want to thank my department for trusting me. The support I’ve gotten from them and the community has meant so much,” Kipke said.
Ellie Jornlin is a University of Maryland student at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism interning with the Greenbelt News Review.
