Locals honoured in Birthday List
Thursday, 19 June 2008
Constable Tommie Linton, community Police Officer.
THE QUEEN has chosen to reward Ballymoney locals both in the town and country in her latest Birthday honours list announced last Saturday as two people with very active roles in the community were awarded the MBE.
These people who give a bit more than most to the community are the Secretary of the Ballymoney Show, Anne Morrison 'for services to Agriculture in Northern Ireland' and Reserve Constable Tommie Linton, 'for Services to Policing'
Reserve Constable Tommie Linton has been a police officer for 22 years, the past 18 as part of Ballymoney town beat.
He has pioneered a number of community initiatives which are now accepted as examples of best practice across the Police Service. He also helped establish two of the three community associations in the town. Much of his work as been with local young people. This includes the Peer Leadership Programme. This led to a group of nine young people setting up and running their own youth club, which now has a large weekly attendance. R/Con Linton has helped to establish the Street Intervention Scheme aimed at young people whose activities have come to police attention. This has impacted on crime and fear of crime in the area. His citation recommendation says "Where others saw problems, he saw potential and was willing to do something about it."
