MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Meridian Township Police Officer Curt Squires has done a lot in his 16 years on the force.

"In my tenure I've worked in our investigations unit. In our police that's a rotating assignment, so I was a detective for three years," Squires said. "I'm a field training officer. Right now, I'm the most senior field training officer in the entire department, so I train new recruits."

And now, he can add another thing to his list of accomplishments: Meridian Township Officer of the Year.

"It's a very big honor," Squires said. "It's nice to get recognition from your bosses or your superiors, you know, you did a good job, you get an 'atta boy' here or there, but this is something your peers put you in for."

Squires says he was surprised to receive the award, but says he believes it's his length of service that helped him receive the award. He also said that one of his favorite stories as an officer came from when Michigan State University Basketball won the National Championship.

"Because of the history of civil disturbance stuff they had with the basketball team, we'd have personnel on-hand to help East Lansing and MSU," Squires said. "And that was my first day as a solo officer is I was assigned to a complaint car in East Lansing during the championship game."

Squires expressed his appreciation to his peers and superiors.

"I am appreciative of the nod. this is kinda one of the ultimate atta boys you can get at the department," Squires said.