AUBURN – Police Officer Tom Poulin is having a good year.

In March, he was the recipient of a United Valley American Red Cross Local Heroes Award, cited for the many years he served as a school resource officer.

On Thursday night, the accolades kept coming: Poulin was named Citizen of the Year by the Auburn Business Association, joining the likes of developer Tom Platz, media mogul Dick Gleason and Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce President Chip Morrison, who have won in recent years.

As is the custom, friends and colleagues worked together to keep the award from Poulin until it was time to present it.

“It went very well,” said Connie King, banquet manager at Lost Valley Lodge, where the event was held. “He was surprised.”

Poulin has been an Auburn police officer since 1985. At one time a motorcycle officer with the department, Poulin is currently the school resource officer at Auburn Middle School, where he leads the Sous Chef Program. The after-school program teaches skills in culinary arts while encouraging students to develop good study habits and positive peer interactions.

Poulin is well-suited for the cooking program. Prior to becoming a policeman, he earned a degree from the Culinary Institute and ran his own breakfast restaurant.

But it wasn’t Poulin’s cooking skills that garnered him the big award; it was his continuing work with schoolchildren.

“He does a huge amount of things for the kids,” said Auburn police Lt. Rick Coron, one of Poulin’s longtime colleagues. “It’s his calling. He doesn’t have children of his own, but he’s great with them.”

The Auburn Business Association award was launched in 1974. Back then, it was called “Man of the Year.” In 1981, it evolved into “Citizen of the Year” when then-city administrator Lee Young received the award.