Shreveport Police Department

www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: April 11, 2001

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

SPD’s Volunteer of the Year gets national award

(Photo of Mr. Laney in media box)

Walter Laney, who was named 2000-2001 Volunteer of the Year at the Shreveport Police Department, was honored today with a national AARP award.

The AARP Award for Outstanding Service to the Community was given to Laney during a meeting of the local AARP chapter. The humanitarian award is the first given in the City of Shreveport and was voted on by the national association of AARP, headquartered in Washington D.C.

Horace B. Deets, AARP executive director said the award is given for exceptional community service.

"AARP owes much to the efforts of our volunteers," Deets said. "Their commitment and service have helped make us a great association."

Deets added that Mr. Laney has "enriched the lives of friends and neighbors and has made the community a better place in which to live."

The award was given at a time when volunteers across America are honored during National Volunteer Week, which is April 22 to 28.

Hundreds of visitors to the Shreveport Police Department have received assistance from Mr. Laney, who spends countless hours at an information booth on the ground floor of the building. He directs people to pay water bills, shows them where to get accident reports, provides phone numbers to social service agencies and many, many other things.

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