MOUNT VERNON — The 2009 Bartlett Award for Mount Vernon Police Department officer of the year was awarded to Patrolman R. Matthew Jones this morning.

Jones was chosen for the award by his peers; and the administration for his integrity, loyalty and dedication in his job performance throughout the year.

Jones has been a member of the department since March 2006. Upon completion of his training period, he was initially assigned as the “beat” or foot patrol officer in the downtown area. Since that time, Jones has worked mostly on the midnight shift and has led the MVPD in OVI arrests for two consecutive years.

A 1998 graduate of Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, he studied law enforcement I and II at Delaware Joint Vocational School and then attended the Ohio Peace Officer Academy at Delaware JVS.

Prior to joining the MVPD, Jones has worked for the Alexandria Police Department as a police officer and the Perry Township Police Department as a dispatcher. Jones is a former member of the Ohio military reserves where he received military police training.

This is the third year of the Bartlett Award, named after former longtime Police Chief Thomas Bartlett.

Previous recipients were Beth Marti and Dave McElroy.