Rochester officer honored with prestigious Blair award

Rochester Police Officer Andrew Swanberry, his wife, and members of the Blair family at Wednesday's ceremony. (Rochester Police photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police Sgt. Andrew Swanberry was named Wednesday as the 14th recipient of the Chief Theodore W. Blair Memorial award, which is given annually to an officer who exemplifies the extraordinary service, integrity, compassion and sense of humor that Chief Blair exhibited in his 20 some years in police work.

Blair attained the rank of Rochester police chief, but died of brain cancer in 1995 after just six months as chief.

Swanberry, who has been with the force for nine years, is a member of the Crisis Intervention Team and the Accident Reconstruction Team. He has also received the Lifesaving Award twice.

Longtime Police Department employee Becky Warburton, who now serves as executive secretary to Chief Michael Allen, fondly remembers Blair, who when he was head of the detectives bureau sat in an office just across the hall from her.

"Every morning he would hear one of the detectives come in and run her caseload by a senior detective," she recalled on Friday. "He would tell her what the next steps would be. So, Ted called him over one time and, "I listen to you talk to (redacted) and I've got to say, you're not helping them grow. It's admirable that you do what you do, but ask (redacted) what they think they should do next."

Another time, she said she gave Blair a packet of papers that came in that made no sense to her along with a note that said, "Ted - please advise." Later he gave her the note back. It read, "Invest in mutual funds. Consider yourself advised." Warburton said she still has the note to this day.

The official criteria for the award reads, "The award is given to that Officer who throughout the year consistently maintains an exceptional level of public service and exemplifies characteristics reminiscent of Chief Blair, including but not necessarily limited to the following: compassion, commitment and dedication, enthusiasm for the job, being respectful of others, having honesty and integrity, inspiring through mentoring, patience, a good disposition and a sense of humor."

Swanberry, 34, said he was honored to receive the award.