Public Safety Leaders Given Lifetime Achievement Awards

Local leaders primarily involved in public safety efforts were recognized as lifetime achievers in community service by a faith-based university — and the nation’s president.

Hamden Human Services Commissioner Daniel Hunt, Hamden Fire Commissioners Garry Tinney and Samod Rankins, New Haven Chief of Police Karl Jacobson, New Haven Chief Administrative Officer Regina Rush-Kittle, New Haven Pastor Kelcy Geonstae Lavar Steele, and State Rep. Juan Candelaria were honored by Heart Bible International University, a Christian-based, online school based out of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, during an awards ceremony at HBIU’s West Hartford satellite campus Sunday night.

President Joe Biden celebrated the crew of Hamdenites and New Haveners — plus roughly 30 other honorees from across the country also selected by HBIU as recipients of the ​“President’s Lifetime Achievement Award” — from afar with signed letters noting each individual’s ​“4,000 hours of service to this great Nation.”

“On behalf of the American people, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and I encourage you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is counting on you,” the presidential message reads.

The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award, also known as the ​“President’s Call To Service Award,” was established in 2003 by former President George W. Bush to honor community members dedicated to humanitarian volunteer work. HBIU Founder and President Dr. Dornett Mcintosh told the New Haven Independent that the university was granted the right to distribute the accolade to their own nominees as of last year. Sunday marked the second gala held by HBIU to ​“honor great community leaders who have given their service to improve the lives of others.”

HBIU also has campuses in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and England. Mcintosh said the university intends to work with recipients of the award, namely the New Haven police and fire departments, to support public safety endeavors abroad.

While many of the recipients, like Karl Jacobson and Gary Tinney, have boasted long careers in New Haven’s public safety departments, a number of young people were also celebrated Sunday.

“I never thought that I would be receiving a presidential lifetime achievement award at the age of 25,” said Daniel Hunt, who works as a community liaison with ConnCORP and was the youngest individual to ever serve on a Hamden volunteer commission.

Hunt told the Independent that through his time leading neighborhood clean-ups and community policing walks through New Haven and Hamden, he always hears people tell him: ​“Keep doing this. Don’t stop.”

“This is just the beginning of a lifetime of public service,” he said, quoting his pastor. He said he hopes one day to serve as a representative on Hamden’s Legislative Council and to start a nonprofit geared towards youth violence prevention and youth employment.