He started Kentucky's School Resource Officer program in 1996 and recently helped transform St. Matthew's dispatch system into a modern, computerized operation.
For these accomplishments and many others that span a 58-year career, St. Matthews Police Chief Norm Mayer has earned the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for 2011, one of 56 such awards given annually by the FBI's 56 field offices.
Mayer, who is 81 and lives in Jeffersontown, received his award from the FBI's Louisville Division, headquartered at 12401 Sycamore Station Place near Jeffersontown.
David Beyer, now-retired chief division counsel, and Scott Brunner, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Louisville office, honored Mayer with the award during a St. Matthews City Council meeting last month.
Mayer gave credit to the "good people" he has worked with, saying, "They backed me 100 percent."
"You've done a fine job," St. Matthews Mayor Bernard Bowling said.
Mayer plans to go to Washington, D.C., in March to be recognized by federal FBI director Robert Mueller at a national awards ceremony to be held at the agency's headquarters. Mayer said he hopes to stay in his position for at least a couple of years.
He's an "example" for everyone in the profession, Grady Throneberry, Graymoor-Devondale's police chief, said at a recent press conference at city hall that Mayer held to announce security arrangements for the recent Toys for Tots Motorcycle Run.
Mayer was flanked by Throneberry and more than a half-dozen other colleagues in law enforcement at the event. "He's done almost everything you can do in local law enforcement," plus he's a "person of great integrity," Throneberry said.
Mayer started his career with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in 1953 after being discharged from the Navy. He joined the Louisville Police Department three years later and worked there for 27 years before retiring in 1982 and joining the St. Matthews Police as chief in 1988.
In between, he worked for the state Department of Transportation in Frankfort and as chief of detectives for the Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney's office and went into business for himself.
Mayer said he hopes to take his family, who was at the city council meeting, to Washington: his wife, Mary; son, Norm Jr., who's a sergeant in the Louisville Metro Police's 8th Division; daughter-in-law, Tara; and Mayer's grandchildren, Nick and Ali.
Since 1990, the FBI award has recognized achievements of individuals and organizations whose efforts in crime, drug, gang and violence prevention or in education have "had an exemplary impact on the community," Brunner said.
Mayer was especially commended for formally establishing the School Resource Officer program in 1996, when he placed St. Matthews Police Officer Dennis McDonald full time at Waggener High School on Hubbards Lane to enhance safety and counsel students.