2000 NRA Officer Of The Year Award Winner

Sergeant Harry A. Baumann, Clarkstown (NY) Police Department

The National Rifle Association is proud to announce that Sergeant Harry A. Baumann of the Clarkstown New York Police Department is the NRA 2000 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. With over 30 years of military and law enforcement service, Sergeant Baumann's dedication to public service exemplifies the qualities that the NRA looks for when bestowing this award.

Sergeant Baumann's military career spans over three decades -- he first served in the United States Army, with three tours of duty in Vietnam and a Purple Heart to his credit. He has also served in the U.S. Army Reserves, and retired from the New York State Army National Guard in 1996 after 34 years of service with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In addition to a Purple Heart, Sergeant Baumann has numerous medals and honors to his credit, including one for meritorious police duty.

His law enforcement career began in 1966 as the chief clerk and security officer for Sloan House YMCA in New York City, and Sergeant Baumann has held several law enforcement positions since then, including security officer for the United Nations, and police officer with the New York City Police Department. He has been with the Clarkstown New York Police Department since 1972, when he started as a police officer with the patrol division. In 1992, Sergeant Baumann received a promotion to his current rank of sergeant, and he is now responsible for a squad of 16 patrol officers, the department's efforts to stop DWIs, and he also oversees the division's budget.

Sergeant Baumann's dedication to the shooting sports includes extensive involvement in NRA's Police Pistol Combat (PPC), which is designed to provide additional firearm training for the nation's law enforcement officers; he served as president of New York's PPC Association for six years, sponsored numerous PPC matches, and was instrumental in creating the New York State Regional Police Pistol Combat Match. Additionally, he is a firearm instructor for both his police department and the Rockland County Police Academy.

Sergeant Baumann has always been a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and considers voting for pro-gun candidates to be his duty to ensure that our right to keep and bear arms is not taken from us. Sergeant Baumann has been an NRA member for the majority of the last 35 years; he became a life member in 1988. He is also very active in competitive shooting, and has been competing in the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, since 1996, representing the New York Army National Guard and the New York State Pistol teams.

"It is with great honor that I accept this recognition as NRA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year," Sergeant Baumann said. "As a police officer and NRA firearm instructor, I would like to thank the NRA for their untiring efforts in supporting one of our most treasured documents -- the Second Amendment."

The NRA Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award was established in 1993 and recognizes exceptional valor, public service, and dedication to the principles of our constitutional heritage.