Emmaus Chief of Police David A. Faust was presented with the 29th annual Colonel John K. Schafer Award Dec. 8 in recognition of exemplary service by law enforcement personnel.

Lehigh County District Attorney James B. Martin presented the award on behalf of the Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association at its annual luncheon.

Faust was nominated and selected for the award by previous award recipients. The criteria for the award includes a nominee’s integrity, initiative and motivation, honesty, loyalty, sincerity and professional excellence.

The award, which is given to an individual who has displayed professional excellence in law enforcement, is in memory of Col. John K. Schafer of the Pennsylvania State Police.

Colonel Schafer, a 23-year state police veteran, was appointed as commissioner in January 1987. He died of cancer at age 46 in August 1987.

The event was attended by Senior Judge of the Pennsyvlania Superior Court William H. Platt, chiefs of police from Lehigh County, representatives from various law enforcement agencies, previous award winners, Emmaus Mayor Winfield Iobst and Faust’s family.

Faust serves on various Lehigh County Chiefs of Police Association committees.

He began his career in Emmaus as a part-time officer and was hired as a full-time officer in 1987. He was the department’s first K-9 handler. He was promoted to sergeant in 1995 and was a platoon sergeant. He also served as a juvenile investigator. He was promoted to chief of police in 2000.

Faust has overseen numerous improvements and milestones for the department, including accreditation through the Pennsylvania Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission.

His leadership, knowledge and experience are assets to the Emmaus Police Department, the community and law enforcement in general.

Faust graduated from Emmaus High School and Moravian College. He received a master’s degree from St. Joseph’s University. He also graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy and was a member of its 215th class.

“Chief Faust is an outstanding law enforcement officer,” Martin said. “Faust, in my opinion, is a deserving recipient of this award.”

“I am extremely humbled to receive such an honor in the name of Col. John K. Schafer,” Faust said. “As a young law enforcement officer, I came to know Colonel Schafer as a true professional in law enforcement and equally an exceptional person in his personal life. Colonel Schafer was certainly the model for others in law enforcement to follow. His wisdom offered so much to the men and women of the Pennsylvania State Police.

“I realize there are countless law enforcement officials in the region who are deserving of such a distinction. To be able to stand among some of the very finest who are past recipients of this award is truly unimaginable.

“I am grateful to District Attorney Jim Martin and all of those affiliated with the Colonel Schafer Award committee who thought of me.

“I believe this award is a credit to the men and women of the Emmaus Police Department. They are the ones out there on the front lines each and every day and they are responsible for the successes that we have,” Faust said.