CLEE Awards

CLEE AWARDS

Chief Michael Kallai, CLEE Barberton PD, where he spent his entire career, was a friend of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police and Law Enforcement Foundation. Chief Kallai passed away suddenly while on vacation with his family during the summer of 2010. Chief Kallai was a graduate of the PELC program, was active in the PELC Alumni Association, and several other committees in law enforcement. Chief Kallai graduated from the CLEE program in 2004 with CLASS IX and was appointed to the CLEE Advisory Board shortly after graduation. He was an active member of the Board, and in the middle of his second term on the CLEE board. Chief Kallai was a strong advocate for the CLEE program and actively worked on the board to strengthen CLEE and to ensure its stature for years to -come through his work to create a sound financial future.

Chief Kallai was also active in his community, serving as a varsity assistant wrestling coach at Wadsworth High School as well as being in integral part of numerous other community activities and events.

Following his sudden death, the CLEE board established the Chief Michael Kallai CLEE Award to be granted each year at graduation to recognize one of the graduates who performed exceptionally well in the CLEE academics as well as has an established record of community involvement, as did Chief Kallai.

The recipient of the Chief Michael Kallai Award for Class XXIX is: Deputy Chief Nicholas Tabernik, CLEE, Dublin PD

Deputy Chief Nick Tabernik has been a member of the Dublin Police Department since 2005 as a patrol officer. Rising up through the ranks, he became deputy chief in January 2019. Among his many duties, he is responsible for the coordination of numerous community events, which in Dublin is no small undertaking. Among the annual events are the Memorial PGA Golf Tournament, and the Dublin Irish Festival, one of the largest of these events across the country.

Nick earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Studies from the University of Dayton and his Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati in 2015. In addition, he completed Northwestern University’s School of Police Staff and Command and the Supervisor Training and Education Program (STEP). He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy Class 282.

As Chief Kallai was active in his community, Deputy Chief Tabernik is also involved in bettering his community. For the past four years, he has been an executive board member and secretary of Starfish Assignment, a non-profit charity community volunteer organization with the mission to strengthen the bonds between law enforcement and the local community through a variety of activities.

Congratulations, Deputy Chief Tabernik on being named the recipient of this prestigious award.

Dr. Ray A. Miller served as the program director for the Certified Law Enforcement (CLEE) program for ten years (2004-2014).  He passed away in June 2014 after a two-year courageous battle with leukemia.  Dr. Miller exemplified the core values of CLEE throughout his highly accomplished life. He was a strong believer in giving to the community. He was an active member of his church and of The Ohio State University Alumni Association.  His contagious smile and affirming pronouncement that “Life is Good!” touched so many in the law enforcement community and beyond.

The CLEE Advisory Board developed the Dr. Ray A. Miller Alumni Leadership Award to be given annually at the Chiefs In-service/Annual Conference to an active CLEE graduate who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in his local community and to the law enforcement profession.