Two Manassas city police officers made history in December when they were honored by the U.S. Department of Justice and Attorney General Merrick B. Garland at the Attorney General’s Awards in Community Policing in Washington.
The national honor showcases the work of master police officer Thomas Rodriquez and master police officer Shauna Moller for their contributions in the Innovations in Community Policing category.
The winners were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their achievements in fostering safer and more inclusive communities.
“For our community, this is a big deal,” Interim City Manager Doug Keen said Dec. 9 during the final Manassas City Council meeting of 2024. “There are only 21 awardees in the nation, and we are the only agency – and for the first time in history – with two officers from the same agency or two different programs. It has never been done before.”
“I believe this is a great achievement,” Councilmember Sonia Vasquez Luna said during the meeting. “It shows all the work and all the effort that many of our city staff do and also the leadership.”
Moller was recognized for her efforts in the mental health sphere. Her work connected hundreds of Manassas residents to services in mental health and domestic violence support that otherwise would not have received them.

In December, Manassas Master Police Officer Shauna Moller (second from left) received recognition for her approach to policing by the U.S. Department of Justice from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland (left) during a ceremony in Washington D.C.
Rodriquez was recognized for his work in the Parent E3 parent education program, which takes an innovative approach to bringing community resources and subject matter experts together to present a topic to an audience of parents, according to the Department of Justice.
“All 21 of today’s awardees have demonstrated what community-oriented policing looks like in practice,” Garland said in a news release from the department. “They come from all different parts of the country. They represent communities of all shapes and sizes. Their typical days might not all look the same. But they are united by a deep commitment to protecting their communities.”
The award recognizes individual state, local and Tribal sworn officers, deputies and troopers for efforts in community policing. The awarded law enforcement officers have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations or innovations in community policing.

In December, Manassas Master Police Officer Thomas Rodriquez (second from left) received recognition for his approaches to policing by the U.S. Department of Justice from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland (left) during a ceremony in Washington D.C.
“Today, we stand in the presence of extraordinary individuals who exemplify the very best of what it means to protect and serve,” Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer said in the release. “We celebrate a remarkable truth: the profound and positive impact that law enforcement officers and deputies have on the communities they serve every single day. These awards honor those who exemplify the very best of the profession and showcases these individuals as pillars of trust, empathy, and unity.”
The Manassas City Police Department’s Community Vitality Officer program, led by Rodriquez, created the Parent E3 Series to engage, educate and empower parents and caregivers to address at-risk behaviors in youth.
The program consists of a dinner for guests and volunteers provided by donations and department funding. A subject matter expert gives a lecture and guests meet with community stakeholders, nonprofit organizations, businesses and government entities at resource tables. Additionally, there is a panel question-and-answer session with the lecturer and other experts.
The program partners with Manassas City Public Schools to increase the program’s marketing outreach, doubling attendance from 2022 to 2023, and has coordinated child care through a school club for parents with younger children.
As the community resource officer for the Manassas City Police Department, Moller has connected mental health and domestic violence resources, earning her the award.
Moller also works with Girls on the Run Northern Virginia, leading a team in the Georgetown South neighborhood of Manassas, where she mentors girls in grades three through eight.
For her efforts, Prince William Living has also recognized Shauna Moller as a 2025 Influential Women Award nominee.
During the Dec. 9 Manassas City Council meeting, Keen said a special ceremony recognizing Moller and Rodriquez will be announced in the coming months.
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