A Kansas City, Missouri police officer has been named as The Missouri Peace Officers Association's Officer of the Year. 

Officer Jason Cooley has worked as KCPD's Community Interaction Officer out of their East Patrol Division since 2009. Officer Cooley works with organizations ranging from community groups to churches as well as businesses to solve problems and help those in need. 

Cooley was honored Monday for his relentless dedication to the community he serves.

He has helped arrange assistance for families in his area after they were burglarized, assisted in home repairs for low-income neighbors, he arranged safety classes for the employees of several business after he noticed they were being targeted in a robbery pattern. 

The Kansas City Police Department says Cooley has cleaned up vacant houses that were known havens for drugs and violence. He's led several neighborhood clean-ups. He persuaded the city to look into poor neighborhood lighting and parking problems in the area. 

Officer Cooley established "Coffee With a Cop" so his residents, especially Hispanics, would get to know him and become more comfortable with police officers. He is so loved in his patrol division that residents in the area hosted an "Officer Cooley Appreciation Day" last year. 

When asked why he works the way he does, Officer Cooley says, “I serve the community as if I were serving God directly, and I am!” 

"In my mind I can think if a lot of courageous, heroic types of situations that are probably occurring fairly frequently in this state. [This honor] is very humbling to me." 

Cooley says he just pays the attention needed. He just wants to improve the quality of life in his community. 

The Missouri Officer of the Year award is one of the highest honors a Missouri police officer can receive. 

Officer Cooley took over his position in East Patrol after the officer who previously held the position, retired. That officer was his father, John Cooley. 

"Dad set a good example. It's neat to be able to do the job and follow in his footsteps. And to wrap it up in a nutshell - serve."