Hunter Bordley, a University of Delaware police officer, has been named “Officer of the Year” by the Newark Rotary Club. He received the honor at a dinner hosted by the club on May 15.

The Newark Rotary Club created the Police Honoree Program to recognize officers from the city’s and the University’s police departments who embody the motto of “service above self” and who go above and beyond in their professional and personal lives to make the community a better place for all to live in and to visit.

According to the Rotary Club, “In order to protect and serve, those officers most certainly place ‘service above self,’ often times placing their lives in danger for the benefit of others. Police officers are selfless and truly should be recognized for their selflessness and positive impact they have. We could not imagine a world without these men and women doing their jobs, day in and day out.”

Bordley was nominated for the honor by the UD Police Department after receiving three departmental commendations in 2016. He was cited for his outstanding work during the apprehension of an armed burglary suspect on the Laird bridge, a traffic stop where an illegal, loaded firearm was recovered and the apprehension of a violent, out-of-control person at the Megabus stop.

Capt. Jason Pires, UD Police Department’s operations commander, said, “Officer Bordley truly embodies the motto of ‘service above self’ and goes above and beyond in his commitment to our community.”

Bordley joined UD Police as a cadet in April 2015 and was hired as an officer the following September. He is a graduate of Delaware Technical Community College, with an associate degree in criminal justice and a focus on law enforcement. While at Delaware Tech, he was vice president of the Law Enforcement Option program.

The Newark Rotary Club is an organization of business professionals that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations and helps build goodwill and peace. Its core values are service, fellowship, diversity, integrity and leadership.