St. Louis Police Officers Kyle Chandler and Joe Haman have been named the 2009 Overall Police Officers of the Year.  The announcement comes as Haman continues to recover at an area rehabilitation center from multiple gunshot wounds he sustained May 27 during a shooting. The suspect in that case, Arvon L. Brown, 24, of the 7500 block of Thelma Avenue, has been charged in the attack.

Chandler and Haman are partners, who in 2009, made 114 arrests, resulting in 121 felony warrants. Their fellow officers selected them as Fifth District Officers of the Month five months in 2009.  During one incident, the pair identified two carjacking suspects who robbed their victims at gunpoint. The suspects spotted officers and ran Chandler and Haman caught them, arrested them and warrants were issued.  In another incident the duo located and arrested suspects who drove down a street shooting at one another.

Department armed guard Karl Johnson has been named 2009 Overall Civilian Employee of the Year.  They will be among more than 30 employees honored during an awards ceremony next week.

BY CHRISTINE BYERS 314-863-2821 cbyers@post-dispatch.com | Posted: Thursday, July 8, 2010 4:14 pm