The Allan Howard Award for Excellence 2022 Recipients
Ed’s Note: The Allan Howard Award for Excellence was established in 2019 to recognize individuals who have taken exemplary action to further IPMBA’s mission. The following are condensed versions of the nominations submitted for the recipients of the 2022 Awards for Excellence, to whom Allan and Kirby Beck presented the awards during the 2022 IPMBA Conference in Dayton, Ohio. Nominations for the 2023 Awards will be accepted until March 1, 2023. See this page for details.
Ranceford (Rance) Okada, PCI #246T
Westminster (CO) Police Department (retired)
Rance has been an IPMBA member since 1995, when he was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist. He was certified as an IPMBA Instructor in 1997, completed the required recertification in 2001, and attained the status of Instructor-Trainer in 2014. He has conducted at least 50 Police Cyclist Courses and has participated in 19 Instructor Courses, serving as lead IT in twelve of them. He has also co-instructed in three conference Instructor Courses in which enrollment consisted of 50 or more students.
Rance took on leadership roles in updating the Complete Guide to Public Safety Cycling, 3rd Edition and the accompanying Instructor ToolKit (ITK). As project manager for the Complete Guide, Rance was responsible for overseeing the many volunteers and keeping them on track with their assigned chapters.
As project leader for the ITK, he guided the efforts of the team of Instructor-Trainers charged with the task, filling in the gaps as necessary. Even as the committee’s work ended, he remained actively involved as the project neared completion.
In addition to his teaching and participation in these projects, Rance has authored several articles for IPMBA News and the website and contributed numerous photos.
Rance’s knowledge of public safety cycling skills, tactics, and technologies is unsurpassed by many other IPMBA members. His oversight of the Complete Guide and ITK updates helped bring the materials and processes up to current standards and placed IPMBA in a favorable position for future projects. Rance’s constant involvement with the Association over his many years of membership, especially his volunteerism and participation in very important projects, certainly showcase his dedication to IPMBA and the field of public safety cycling.
Michael A. (Mike) Wear
PCI #516T-B/EMSCI #059T-B
Metropolitan (DC) Police Department (retired)
Prince William County (VA) Ranger Division
Mike has been an IPMBA member since 1998, having “discovered” it six years after he joined MPD’s first mountain bike unit. He was certified as an IPMBA Police Cyclist in 1998 and as an IPMBA Instructor in 2001. He earned Instructor-Trainer status in 2008. He was one of the primary authors of the IPMBA Bicycle Response Team Training and the accompanying BRT Instructor module. Mike participated in the filming of the Fundamental Skills for Public Safety Cycling video in 2009 as well as the IPMBA promotional video in 2013. Mike has instructed at least 70 Police, EMS, and Security Cyclist Courses, 12 BRT Trainings, 13 Instructor Courses, and a number of BRT Instructor Development modules.
Mike is first and foremost an instructor. Watching him work with his students gave me the impression of a person who has the maturity and demeanor to work with cyclists of vastly different cycling skills.
Mike’s commitment to his students’ education and training goes far beyond the classroom. Every moment is a teaching moment. He always believes that the needs of the students come first and that training can be both educational and fun. He has the ability to take his students to the edge of their comfort zone and then guide them past it to set the bar even higher.
Mike’s commitment to IPMBA is apparent. He was a member of the Board of Directors from 2013-2022. After having served multiple terms as the Education Director, he took on the role of Vice President. He truly believes in the mission of IPMBA and he brings great credit upon himself and the organization.
Muhammed Ali once said “Service to your fellow man is your rent for a room on Earth”. As a police officer, teacher, instructor, and mentor, Mike’s rent has been paid tenfold.
(c) 2022 IPMBA.