“Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major,” Monroe told the full-house crowd, quoting King. “Say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter.”
Monroe said Muterspaw, a 25-year veteran of the Middletown Division of Police, exemplified King’s “drum major instinct,” something he said is inside every individual.
“Our chief … has been in meetings, he has been in the community and he has answered the hard questions,” Monroe said. “You don’t just see him when things get tough. He’s there beforehand and I appreciate having a chief that is so transparent with the people in the Middletown community.
“He’s not only the police chief, but he’s a resident here, and I thank God for him and all that he does for the city of Middletown.”
Monroe said the award recognizes “leaders who give their time serving others but seldom seek the spotlight.”
With the spotlight on Muterspaw, the police chief, who started in the role last February, thanked his family for their patience with his schedule, the ministerial alliance for its cooperative efforts and City Manager Doug Adkins for promoting culture change, openness and transparency on the police force.
He also recognized Detective Earl Nelson and Officer Holly Owens, who also attended the service.
“I wanted to thank them because what we’re building is a culture change in the police world and doing what’s right instead of what’s popular in the police world,” Muterspaw said. “We’ve taken some heat for it here in Middletown, but I’d do it again tomorrow if I had to. Those two are really key in what I’m trying to do because they support me 100 percent in what we’re trying to do.”
He told the Journal-News the award was “a humbling and incredible honor.”
“To be awarded anything that has Dr. King’s name attached to it is just surreal,” Muterspaw said. “He was such a great leader during troubled times that it is hard to put your head around it.”
Middletown Division of Police’s relationship with the community is something those on the force are proud of, because without that, the police department is “just really an agency only,” he said.
“With it, we are a united community,” Muterspaw said. “Our officers and staff work hard to make this work and this award is possible because of what they believe in and stand for as well.”
Elaine Watson, a Middletown resident since 1964, said the police chief is doing a good job and that it was “wonderful” for the Middletown Area Ministerial Alliance to honor him.
“We need to recognize the people who do good for us because all we hear is bad news,” she said. “I love good news.”
About the Author
