Dave Lindman Honored as 2013 Edina Officer of the Year

Dave Lindman, who has been working as an officer with the Edina Police Department since 2001, was honored Tuesday night as the recipient of the second annual Mike Siitari Officer of the Year Award.

Police Chief Jeff Long presented Lindman with the award during Tuesday's City Council meeting, referring to him as source of "the pride that I beam with each day."

"Officer Lindman, your work is impressive," Long said. "Your efforts to bring justice in a case involving over $58 million is something that not many of us ever get to do in our job, whether it's working in Edina, MN, or Los Angeles, CA. You've done something that very few in American society can say they've done and something that all of us in public service should strive for."

Lindman was one of numerous law enforcement agents who played a key role in "Operation Starburst," an international financial fraud case that yielded $58 million in potential losses related to more than 10,000 victims. That case alone, which originated in Edina and spread as far as Africa, included more than 30 convictions.

"Operation Starburst" involved local, federal and state agencies working in tandem, with Lindman praising the "thousands of hours" that individuals working on the case put in to bring suspects to justice. Speaking about it during Tuesday's meeting, Lindman recalled one particular victim who thanked him and other agents working on the case for bringing an end to the massive crime network.

"His story of victimization was truly heart-wrenching," Lindman said. "Based on the work we'd done, he felt some conclusion and would sleep easier that night knowing that the people responsible for what happened to him were arrested."

Lindman received two different nominations for the 2013 Officer of the Year Award, Long said, including one internal and one from outside of the department. That external nomination came courtesy of Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann Anaya, who praised him as "one of the finest law enforcement professionals I have met in my career."

"I so enjoyed working with him because he is exceptionally kind, courteous, always fair and humble," Anaya wrote. "It is a pleasure and a honor to work with an officer that displays an absolute commitment to protect and serve Edina, the Task Force and justice."

Lindman thanked his family, friends, co-workers and fellow members of the "Operation Starburst" team for supporting him, particularly his wife and children for "all of the missed family time that was unfortunately required of this case."

"I'm both honored and humbled to receive such recognition," Lindman said.

Lindman is the second Edina officer to receive the recognition, following in the footsteps of Officer Joel Moore in 2012.

Nominations are solicited from both the Edina Police Department and community, then are presented to the Edina Crime Prevention Fund for selection. Nominations for the 2014 award can be made later this year by writing to the Edina Crime Prevention Fund, RE: Officer of the Year, 4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424.

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