MT. VERNON — Patrolman Josh Clarke of the Mt. Vernon Police Department was named the department’s “Officer of the Year” at Mt. Vernon’s city council meeting Tuesday.

In the past year, Clarke attended and graduated from multiple police training programs including Field Training Officer School, Basic SWAT School, Juvenile School, and Bike Patrol School. Captain Allen Carr wrote in his nomination letter for Clarke, “Clarke has consistently shown that he not only cares a great deal about his job, but he is also striving to find new ways of improving his job performance.”

Clarke says he is humbled to be chosen for the award.

In city business Tuesday night, the council approved a three-year contract with Westport Pools for opening and winterizing the Aquatic Zoo for three years along with a contract with Novacom to upgrade radio systems for the city’s police, fire, and public works departments.