UCPD officer receives Honor Guard award

For the second time in three years, a University of Cincinnati Police Officer was named Honor Guard Officer of the Year by the Hamilton County Police Association Honor Guard.

Officer Adam Hubbard has been with the Honor Guard since 2015. The Amelia, Ohio, resident first joined an honor guard while working for the Amelia Police Department.

“I am a member of the Honor Guard because supporting our fellow officers and their families is very important to me,” Hubbard said.

Ken Poppe, the commander of the HCPA Honor Guard, called Hubbard “an integral part of the unit,” adding that he has become a leader of the unit through hard work and dedication.

“Adam has not only made himself more available to the many and increasing demands placed upon the Honor Guard, but has taken a more active role in the execution of several of our events,” Poppe said.

To choose the officer of the year, Poppe looks at the qualities of the officer.

“Adam has not only shown the true honor, integrity and dedication to the HCPA Honor Guard, he also carries these qualities in his job in law enforcement on a daily basis,” he said.

UC Police Division Chief Maris Herold seconded Poppe’s sentiments.

“Officer Hubbard is a dedicated officer and a valuable asset to UCPD. We are proud of his work with the HCPA Honor Guard,” Herold said.

During Hubbard’s time with the Honor Guard, he has traveled to Police Week in Washington, D.C., attended Cincinnati Bengals games, Cincinnati Reds games and other events, and participated in funerals for fallen officers, among other duties. When Colerain Township Police Officer Dale Woods died in early January, Hubbard stood at his casket, along with other members of the Honor Guard, for six days on his own time.

“We don’t do it for the overtime, we do it for the honor of the officer and the respect for the family,” Hubbard said.

As a member of the Honor Guard, Hubbard attends one day of training a month, and then varying “deployments,” which happen often, he said.

Hubbard started with UCPD as a security officer in 2003. He went through the police academy in 2006, after which he worked part time for the Amelia Police Department for a few years before returning to UCPD to be a police officer, a position he enjoys.

“I enjoy being outside and interacting with people, and being able to help people,” Hubbard said.