Novato PD Names Det. Steve Cogan Employee of the Year

The Novato Police Department announced Detective Steve Cogan as the Novato Police Department Employee of the Year. He was honored on Sat., March 16, at the Novato Elks Lodge.

Cogan was hired by the Novato Police Department in 1984. During his tenure with NPD, he has worked in Patrol and Investigations as both a detective and school resource officer. He is currently assigned to his second rotation as a detective primarily investigating sex crimes and crimes against children.

Cogan received certification from the Robert Pressley Institute of Criminal Investigation in the area of sexual assault investigation and gang crime investigation. He was honored as the Marin County Police Officer of the Year in 1991 and is the two-time recipient of the Novato Police Department Medal of Valor and a recipient of the Medal of Merit.

The first Medal of Valor was awarded for Cogan’s involvement in rescuing the resident of an apartment building that was actively on fire. The second Medal of Valor was awarded for his actions while driving to work. Cogan came upon a solo vehicle collision with the driver trapped inside of a burning vehicle. He freed the driver from the vehicle prior to it becoming engulfed in flames. Cogan was awarded the Medal of Merit for his participation in the arrest of a subject who had barricaded himself in his residence after lighting his bedroom furniture on fire.

On May 4, 2012, Cogan responded from his residence to continue negotiation with an armed subject who had barricaded himself in his home with his estranged wife. After approximately 45 minutes of negotiation, he convinced the subject to release his estranged wife. Approximately one hour later, Cogan convinced the subject to surrender peacefully.

The City of Novato has a full report on its website.