The University of Arizona Police Department will recognize 15 people with its Appreciation Award for assisting police in reporting activities or suspicious events that resulted in arrests or prevention of crime.

Devin Leal, a pre-education sophomore, and Ashley Preach, a political science junior, will receive the award for reporting a car thief who tried to dump a stolen vehicle in their sorority’s parking lot. Both positively identified the suspect with the vehicle, leading to his arrest.

In the past, UAPD has called in the winners individually or in pairs for a small ceremony with Sgt. Eugene Mejia and Chief Anthony Daykin.

“”We rely heavily on community observation and reports in crime prevention,”” UAPD spokesman Mejia said. “”Every student and staff member should take ownership of the U of A.””

Brittany Youngman, an elementary education senior who is also an award winner, arranged for her Delta Delta Delta sorority house to receive a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design analysis by the UAPD Crime Prevention Unit to help make their home as safe as possible, according to Mejia.

Youngman also set up a Safety on Campus presentation with UAPD.

UAPD believes in a relationship between the people on campus and the police to help keep the area safe. This is why UAPD displays the logo “”Partners with our Community”” on their vehicles, Mejia said.

“”We know we cannot do it alone and we know we rely on that community partnership,”” Mejia said.

Recipients of the Appreciation Award have gone above and beyond to do the right thing in helping prevent a crime or assist in information that leads to an arrest. But UAPD also recognizes the importance of seemingly small actions, such as turning in a lost wallet with all items including currency intact, Mejia said.

UAPD’s first collective ceremony will be today at 11 a.m. at UAPD headquarters, 1852 E. First St.