Inaugural Allan Howard Award for Excellence (2021) Presented to Artie Gonzales, PCI #141
On October 18, 2021, IPMBA founding member Allan Howard, past president Jim Bowell, and Executive Director Maureen Becker traveled to Topeka, Kansas, to present the Inaugural IPMBA Allan Howard Award for Excellence to Artie Gonzales.
The Allan Howard Award for Excellence was established in 2019 to recognize individuals who have taken exemplary action to further IPMBA’s mission.
After receiving the following nomination, it was the distinct pleasure of the Awards Committee to select Artie as the first recipient of the Allan Howard Award for Excellence. The surprise ceremony was arranged by IPMBA Instructor Jayme Green, PCI #991, during a Police Cyclist Course. It was attended by Topeka Police Chief Bryan Wheeles, past and present members of the Topeka Police Department Bicycle Unit, and the Police Cyclist Course students, as well as members of the community, family, and friends.
IPMBA is accepting nominations for the 2022 Allan Howard Award for Excellence. See page 24 for details.
Artie has been a member of IPMBA since 1994, when it was a program of the League of American Bicyclists. An avid cyclist, he was one of the founding members of the Topeka (KS) Police Department Bicycle Unit in 1993. His initial training was conducted by the Omaha (NE) Police Department.
Impressed with his experience during the 1994 Police on Bikes Conference, he attended the IPMBA Police Cyclist Course later that year. He was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist Instructor in 1995 via the practice teach method and attended the Police Cyclist Instructor Development Course (PCID) in 1996. He has since taught more than 30 Police Cyclist Courses and mentored five members of his agency as instructors. He continues to assist with the Topeka Police Department’s Police Cyclist Courses.
He was elected to the IPMBA Board of Directors in 1999 and served until 2005, as Treasurer and Conference Coordinator. He has traveled extensively for IPMBA, attending board meetings, conducting site visits, and working/teaching at the conferences.
He has attended every conference since 1994 in various capacities, including as attendee, instructor, board member, volunteer registration coordinator, and competition “safety god”.
He has served on both the Police Cyclist and the Police Cyclist Advanced Course cadres and conducted various workshops, including tactical maneuvers, Effective Cycling ™, urban cycling, patrol procedures, and night riding. He is perhaps most well-known for his bicycle-specific firearms workshop, which incorporates physical exertion, simulated crashes, shooting from the ground, and shooting with the non-dominant hand.
While on the Board, Artie assumed responsibility for the conference registration desk and has managed and staffed it every year since at least 2002, always on his personal time.
Artie has conducted civilian bicycle safety education programs in Topeka and has provided information and assistance to advocacy groups seeking to improve cycling safety. He was a member of the project advisory committee for the development of the Topeka Bikeways Master Plan. He also organizes a fundraising run for a parochial school.
Artie is a humble person, not one to boast of his skills or accomplishments or seek accolades. He was a patrol officer for 36 years, passing on promotions in order to continue to directly serve the members of his community as a bike officer.
Congratulations, Artie. May your service be an inspiration to others!