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Lebanon patrolman Ed Christie named Feb. 2024 Officer of the Year; teaches DARE, pursuing negotiation training
Summary
Patrolman Ed Christie, Lebanon Police Department’s Feb. 2024 Officer of the Year, described his community policing work, volunteer DARE teaching and plans for crisis‑negotiation training on the Love in Lebanon podcast.
Patrolman Ed Christie of the Lebanon Police Department, the city’s Feb. 2024 Officer of the Year, discussed his award, community‑policing work and volunteer DARE teaching on the Love in Lebanon podcast.
Christie said the award was a surprise and described the recognition as “a pretty amazing feeling. I feel like one of my biggest accomplishments. It still feels unreal.” The department’s selection, he said, considered calls for service, attitude and officers’ willingness to “step up” for extra shifts or duties such as working the front desk.
On the podcast, Joe LePage, the city of Lebanon communications and community development director, asked Christie about his path to policing and what he does day to day. Christie said he’s served a little more than two years with the Lebanon Police Department after earlier work with the Indianapolis Public Schools Police Department, time in the Army Reserve and attending Vincennes University. He grew up in the Elizaville area and told LePage he wanted to be a police officer from age 4.
Christie emphasized community interactions as part of his work. “I love getting out there every day and being proactive rather than reactive and just trying to get into as much as I can and prevent crime here in Lebanon,” he said. He described routine calls that include helping motorists, such as pushing stalled cars off interstates and delivering gas, and said those moments are meaningful because they “get them up and going again and just seeing that smile.”
Christie also described his volunteer role teaching DARE classes. He said he is teaching three fifth‑grade classes at Perryworth this semester and is using lessons on nonverbal communication and empathy to help students make safe, responsible choices. Christie said he volunteered for the assignment and named former deputy Debbie Martin of the sheriff’s office as an early influence who inspired him to pursue DARE work.
Looking ahead, Christie said he is finishing the DARE graduations scheduled around May 1 and has been approved to attend crisis negotiation training. He described career goals that include serving in major road operations and, ultimately, moving into higher leadership: “Possibly Chief Christie,” he said.
The interview also touched briefly on department recruiting and facilities: Christie said Lebanon PD is hiring, that pay is “not the best” compared with some agencies, and that the department is working toward a new police station because the current facility “isn’t fantastic.”
The podcast episode did not include formal votes, motions or legal references. Christie and LePage discussed the award, day‑to‑day duties, DARE teaching and Christie’s training and career goals.
