Jim McNally: Aurora Police Department, Aurora, Colorado
Jim McNally has been volunteering for the Aurora Police Department (APD) for eight years. He has taken a leadership role in many volunteer projects. When a request came in from the crime lab for volunteer support with composite drawings, Jim was the only non-staff participant in an eight-hour training course to learn the new composite software. Jim spent many hours practicing with the program after the training. When a request comes in from the crime lab, Jim meets with the witness or victim one-on-one to develop the composite drawing. To date, he has submitted 35 sketches, including one unidentified body, to detectives in the Aurora Police Department. The first composite drawing Jim created led APD officers to arrest a suspect charged with robbery and kidnapping within two weeks. He has since begun training three additional volunteers on how to use the software and conduct interviews. Jim is also active in assisting with fingerprinting members of the public, a project volunteers manage twice a week. Jim has also reviewed and written hundreds of fraud reports received through the mail and email over the years. This eases the workload for the sergeant in charge. Three days a week, Jim works with the Traffic Section of the police department on checking that vehicle window tints are compliant with the Colorado State Law.
Cee Viola: Morrow Police Department, Morrow Georgia
Cee Viola has been volunteering for the Morrow Police Department since 2001. In February 2008, at a City Council Meeting, she received the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Award (letter, certificate and pin), for over 4000 hours of service. After attending a Citizen’s Police Academy in 2001, she became, the first volunteer at the Morrow Police Department, working closely with the Police Major of the department. Today, she is the V.I.P.S. Coordinator for the Morrow Police Department’s volunteer program, which is steadily growing. As the VIPS Coordinator, she works for the Special Services Department, helping prepare future Citizen’s Police Academies and VIPS classes, and recruiting volunteers from VIPS and the CPA alumni for all City of Morrow special events. She assists in administrative support, assists the Uniform Patrol Division and H.E.A.T. division, and is responsible for checking seatbelts usage for GOHS Statistics. Cee and another VIPS member do neighborhood surveillance once a week in an unmarked car. Cee also assists in other departments such as, data entry for the Criminal Investigations Division, filing for the Records Department, translating documents from Spanish to English, as well as photographing and maintaining an Events Board of all city and police department events.
Gary Thomas: Truckee Police Department, Truckee, California
The Truckee Police Department recently recognized Gary Thomas as their Volunteer of the year for 2007. Gary has been with the Volunteer in Policing program since its inception in 2003. He is currently the citizen coordinator for the program assisting the Chief of Police with the operational and administrative duties to keep the program running. During the past year Gary has volunteered a total of 522 hours earning him the Gold Presidents Volunteer Service Award. Gary is a retired Navy Captain with over 26 years of service to his country. As such he brings a wealth of experience and leadership ability to the program resulting in the volunteers performing at a high level of capability such that the department does not hesitate to call them out for emergencies or other incidents where assistance is needed.
Irving Wolff: Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
Volunteer Major Irving Wolff is an exemplary volunteer for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office in West Palm Beach, Florida. In his role as a volunteer major, he assists the COP units with training, as well as, being a Parking Enforcement specialist, a member of the Volunteer Emergency Response Team and a field training officer. Irv is dependable and may be counted on for additional community service at such programs as: Night out Against Crime, Shop with a COP, the annual back to school program and other special events. He has earned the respect and admiration of those with whom he works and those who know him. He inspires others by his example, his good cheer, his patience, and "can do" attitude. He is one of those rare leaders who inspires others toward excellence in their own performance. The volunteer program has over 4,000 volunteers. Irv is a real standout among his peers.
Paul Cline: Dalton Police Department, Dalton, Georgia
Dalton Police Volunteer Paul Cline was recently awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award (Gold) in a ceremony at Dalton City Hall for his extensive service to the Dalton community. Cline, who has served since 2004, logged in more than 1800 hours in 2005, and has donated more than 1300 hours so far in 2006. Cline spends many hours monitoring traffic conditions, assisting motorists with mechanical failures, and performing administrative functions for the department. Dalton Police Chief James D. Chadwick said of Cline and the program, "The contribution of Volunteer Cline and all our volunteers provides an invaluable service to the police department and the citizens of Dalton. The donated time by our volunteers allows us to stretch our resources and frees our officers to concentrate on law enforcement. We are indebted to them for their dedicated service."
Dawn Taylor: Indianapolis Police Department, Indianapolis, Indiana
Mrs. Dawn Tyler has been named the Indianapolis Police Department's Civilian Volunteer Services Officer of the Year. Since 2003, Mrs. Tyler has served her community and the Indianapolis Police Department as a Civilian Volunteer Police Officer. In 2005 she earned the rank of CVP Sergeant and accepted the additional duties of supervising her fellow CVP officers. Sergeant Tyler has unselfishly donated her time not only to help the unit meet its primary goals of traffic management but also, in developing the personnel within the unit. She has assisted in recruiting efforts, developed and taught courses for the new CVP officers, and has patiently provided guidance for the officers in the unit.
CVP Sergeant Tyler has participated in every major event that the unit has been involved in, often at the expense of spending quality time with her family. Additionally, CVP Sergeant Tyler frequently volunteers for extra duty assignments. Such as her willingness to help assemble bio-hazard kits for the departments WMD training last spring. On another occasion Sgt. Tyler responded in the early morning hours to help secure the downtown area after a severe storm caused considerable damage to a skyscraper.
Through her service, it is evident that she is dedicated to the citizens of Indianapolis, her community and the Indianapolis Police Department. A special thank you to Dawn and all of our volunteers!
Doris Cornett: Tempe, Arizona, Police Department
Doris Cornett received the Tempe Police Department's Outstanding Volunteer Service award sponsored by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 11. Doris has been the manager of Photo Radar Viewing for seven years. She reviews records and keeps the Traffic Supervisor informed of issues and problems that she has encountered. She determines which citations to dismiss and which are valid. Doris is dependable, well organized, and extremely knowledgeable about her responsibilities. She is the only volunteer in the metro Phoenix area who manages a Photo Radar desk. Doris also assists in Special Investigations one day a week.
Al Garbagnati: Tempe, Arizona, Police Department
Al Garbagnati was the recipient of the Tempe Police Department's Outstanding Volunteer Service award sponsored by the Association for Volunteer Administration of Central Arizona. Al assists the Patrol Division two days a week with the weekly inspections on vehicles. When patrol vehicles are low on fluids or essential supplies, he restocks them. He is very dependable and can always be counted on to be there on his scheduled days. When the division was short staffed during the holidays, Al significantly increased his work hours so that the job would get done.
Doris Chappius and Carlina Shelby: Idaho State Police, Region 1 Patrol, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
On April 26, 2006, Idaho State Police (ISP) Region 1 Patrol honored our two citizen volunteers with lunch, cake and tokens of our appreciation. Doris Chappius and Carlina Shelby were completely surprised and speechless. They were not even aware of Volunteer Appreciation Week. Doris and Carlina volunteer because they want to do something positive for their community, not for recognition.
Doris retired from the Penske Trucking Company in California and moved to Idaho to be close to family. She joined ISP in November 2003. Doris enters citations, labels envelopes, files, and copies and collates training material. Doris also assists with other special projects as needed.
Carlina retired from a local doctor’s office and joined ISP in October 2004. Carlina distributes dispositions, labels videotapes, erases videotapes and assists our evidence tech with many other duties. Carlina also enters citations, labels envelopes, and copies and collates material.
Region 1 Patrol’s use of volunteers started in April 2003, when Captain Wayne Longo contacted our local “Retired and Senior Volunteer Program” (RSVP) coordinator. We have had four volunteers through the “Volunteers in Police Services” (VIPS) program funded by Homeland Security. The help provided by the volunteers is especially welcome after the loss of a part-time office position last year.
Our entire office looks forward to “volunteer days”. Both Doris and Carlina are fun, friendly and professional. Doris even bakes goodies for us. They attend Idaho State Police Association functions like the Christmas party and fund-raising activities. Carlina has been quoted to say, “You all make me feel like part of your ISP family.” They both feel it is a privilege and honor to volunteer for the Idaho State Police. They have been known to say they would gladly pay money to be part of the Region 1 ISP team. They puff up with pride when they read about or see “their officers” in the news. With their dedication and contribution to Region 1 Patrol we are able to keep current on many projects that would otherwise require staff to work overtime to complete or would not get completed in a timely manner.
Region 1 Patrol would like to thank Captain Longo for his innovative ideas by initiating our volunteer program. We also want to thank Doris and Carlina for their vital contribution and friendship.
Joel Sussman: Clearwater, Florida, Police Department
Joel has been a volunteer with the Clearwater Police Department since 2002. He has seen the volunteer program go through many changes as it progressed to the present day program. Much of the success of the Clearwater Police Department's Volunteer Program is due to volunteers such as Joel. Joel started with the program in the administrative section and now performs the duties in Park Patrol, where he checks the city parks for needed repairs, truancy, graffiti, transients and situations that are of concern to child safety. He is also involved in assisting with traffic details for parades, funerals and special events. He performs duties with our Homeland Security Patrol checking government buildings and areas of potential concern to the city for unusual incidents, out of place articles, people, vehicles, etc. anything relating to the security of the city. As a member of our Trail Patrol, Joel rides a bicycle on the city trails assisting citizens, checking for homeless camps, safety issues and assuring that everyone enjoys the trails. Joel avails himself to our QRT team. Quick Response Team members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for any type of emergency. They have been called upon to assist with traffic direction, perimeter and crime scene security during SWAT call outs, traffic homicide investigations, plane crashes, gas leaks and many other incidents. Joel has also received his state certification for installing child seats. His wife Yvette is also a volunteer and makes the appointments for parents to have their child's seat installed by Joel. Both Joel and Yvette are very active in training new volunteers and they continually attend courses at the college in law enforcement. This is just to mention some of the many duties Joel, and his wife Yvette, perform in the volunteer program. As active as they are, it is difficult to keep up with them. They have retired from the public sector work force and are enjoying their days with the volunteers. Truly an asset to the program. I am very proud to say he is a member of the Clearwater Police Department Volunteer Program.
Jo Ann Bauer: Quincy, Illinois, Police Department
Ms. Jo Ann Bauer (Jo) was selected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the recipient of the prestigious Director’s Community Leadership Award. Only one person is selected from each FBI Division (there are 56 nationally). She was nominated by the Quincy Police Department.
Ms. Bauer is the Branch Manager of State Street Bank’s facility at the County Market Store at 24th and Spring. She coordinates the day-to-day activities of the bank, but also shows her community spirit by coordinating numerous fundraising efforts for groups such as the Alzheimer’s Association, St. Francis Church, and the Quincy Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Program, and the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.
Jo has officially adopted the Quincy Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Program. She believes in DARE so strongly that she raises thousands of dollars a year to support the Department’s DARE Program. She has given up many of her days off to operate pizza or hotdog and burger concessions, a popcorn stand, and even a “Moonwalk” balloon jump. She has collected aluminum cans to be recycled for DARE. She has writes requests to Service clubs and Civic Organizations for grants to fund DARE events or to partner with DARE and conduct events for the children.
Jo not only has responded to financial needs of DARE, but more importantly she helps coordinate DARE volunteers. Our DARE program hosts several activities for students including a night at “Bonkers” (Family Fun Center), a (5k run), a Dance, a Food Drive, 10 Basketball events, a Skating Party, Bowling Party, a Haunted House, a parade, Trivia Contest, Live Community Theater, and a Family Picnic. These events are attended by hundreds of DARE students and their families. Jo is usually the first there and the last to leave.
Jo attended the Quincy Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy in the fall of 2000. Upon her completion she subsequently joined the Academy Alumni Association, where she has served as an officer in the Alumni for years. She can always be counted on to help with whatever project the group is involved in.
Herb Hamby: Modesto, California, Police Department
Herb became a Volunteer with the Modesto Police Department about a year and a half ago. His desire to work with children in our community soon became very evident. In September 2004, he teamed up School Resource Officer Mike Boyer and initiated a Truancy Intervention Program (TIP's) patterned after the local Sheriff's Department's program.
The target school was a K through 6, elementary school in a low income, high minority and highly transient part of our community. The goal of the program was to increase daily attendance and reduce tardiness through parental contact. Working one morning a week, armed with a telephone, a list of "offenders" and two thermometers with disposable mouthpieces, he and his partner set out.
The parents of many of the children were surprised to find a representative from the Police Department standing at their door and asking why their child was not at school. The surprises only continued for those parents who claimed their child had a fever and the thermometer reading showed 98.6. Other excuses ranged from a lack of clothing, lice infection, to not being able to get up on time. Herb's arsenal grew to include lice shampoo and combs, alarm clocks and information and contact numbers for health and human resource service organizations.
The results during the first four months of the program were unexpected and extraordinary! From September to December 2004 unexcused absences were decreased by 526, about 33%, as compared to the same time period in 2003. Excused absences were also decreased. They dropped by 104, about 33%, as compared to the same time period in 2003. Herb was also able to identify and locate students who no longer lived within the school boundaries. This information was sent to the School District Office who contacted the families and insured child enrollment at the school in their new neighborhood.
What do these numbers and reduced absence really mean? In dollars and cents it equates to over $15,000.00 more dollars to the school. To the parents, they realize they will be held accountable for their child's education. To the children, they gain educational opportunities opening the door to their future.
With Herb's help and desire to see the program grow we now have four volunteers and two elementary schools involved in TIP's. We look forward to continued success and growth with this valuable volunteer program.
Darren Hill : Zephyrhills, Florida, Police Explorer Post 520
Darren joined the Zephyrhills Police Explorers in October 1998 at the age of 14. He has accumulated over 1000 hours of service to the community and over 1000 hours of law enforcement service to the department. As a student Darren received numerous scholarships, including the coveted Bright Futures Scholarship. He maintained a 4.0 GPA, graduated with honors and was on the Dean’s List. In his church, Darren serves as a youth group counselor.
Darren’s community service and Police Explorer accomplishments are inseparable. His distinguished list of accomplishments and training include: a certificate of appreciation from the City of Zephyrhills (2002), Explorer of the Year (2001), highest competition training GPA, tops in sales for the Explorer Ad Book, FBI Leadership Development Seminar, National Law Enforcement Conference (2000), FBI Leadership Development Seminar, National Law Enforcement Conference (2002), US Marshall Fugitive Recovery Seminar, National Law Enforcement Conference (2002), Ride Along Certified (2001), Self Defense (2001), U.S. Department of Justice, US Marshal’s Explorer Academy, Washington DC (2003), National Explorer Conferences (2000, 2002 and 2004), Florida Association of Police Explorers Conferences (2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004), OC Chemical Spray (2001), Bicycle Safety Course Training (2001), Tenure Award (4 Times), CPR and First Aid Certified (6 Times) Crime and Drug Prevention Course (2001), taught the Crime Prevention Course (2001), Crime Prevention Proficiency Award.
Darren’s duties with the Police Explorers include promotion to Sergeant in 1999, promotion to Lieutenant in 2000, promotion to Captain in 2001, promotion to Major in 2002 and promotion to Colonel in 2003. Darren is of strong moral character, respectful of authority, obeys the laws of our society, and respected by his peers, teachers and community leaders.
Frank Sardo: Los Angeles County, California, Sheriff's Department, Santa Clarita Valley Station
Frank began volunteering with the Santa Clarita Valley Station in August, 1991 and has been dedicated to helping the station from the start, working at the station's front counter. Frank accomplished over 1000 hours in less than a year in the volunteer program, which is truly remarkable. Frank has volunteered in several areas here at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station. He has worked in the Detective Bureau assisting the detectives in the filing of paperwork and assisting with any administrative functions that will help the detectives; including computer work to identify a suspect and recover a Grand Theft Auto, in February of 1992; identify, recover, label and load over 55 stolen items in October of 1995; and again the same with over 100 items in August of 1996.
Frank has assisted Community Relations Deputy Patrick Rissler with the Graffiti Removal Machine when it was assigned to the station from 1997 to 1999. He along with the Deputy went out at least twice a month and removed the unsightly graffiti from all areas of the Santa Clarita Valley. One of the biggest programs that Frank is involved with is the Vacation Check Program which along with Deputy Rissler worked tirelessly to start in January of 1994, and now has evolved over the years to become known as the Volunteers On Patrol. As a result of Frank's tenure as a volunteer here at the Santa Clarita Valley Station, and his dedication, he was promoted to a Team Leader status with the Volunteers On Patrol, involving; training, scheduling, conducting meetings, and overseeing the other volunteers involved with the program.
In October of 1995, Frank along with a station Traffic Investigator, Deputy Mark Slater, began the long process with the City of Santa Clarita, to utilize the Volunteers On Patrol in the issuing of Disabled Parking Citations, to which it was approved by the city council unanimously. Frank oversaw the implementation and training of all the volunteers involved. Due to the overwhelming success of the Disabled Parking Citation Program implemented in the City of Santa Clarita, the County of Los Angeles began a test program in the unincorporated area of the Santa Clarita Valley only, before it was to go county-wide. Again, Frank was instrumental in the implementation of the county program, which was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in October of 1997.
Frank has helped out the volunteer program at the Santa Clarita Valley Station in remarkable ways. He enjoys working with the deputies and gets along well with everyone he contacts, and it is reflected by his donating approximately 100 hours per month with a current total of 8400 hours. This of course reflects upon the Volunteer Program tremendously. Frank is enthusiastic and seeks out work with anyone that might need help.
Frank was nominated in January of 2004 for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Volunteer of the Year and received the award and its many accolades on April 19, 2004 in the presence of Sheriff Leroy D. Baca and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Frank has received many notes, letters and Department Service Comment Forms from the public, deputies and Administrators for his excellent service to the department. In this respect Frank has, very much so, contributed toward the success of strengthening County programs and services. The public sees the success in Frank's work with the Volunteers On Patrol Program alone, and of course it reflects on the County of Los Angeles, the City of Santa Clarita and the Sheriff's Department as a whole.
Ruby Fitzgerald: Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department
Originally from Glasgow, Montana, she has lived in Alexandria since 1979. Mrs. Fitzgerald is a retired school teacher who taught English as a second language overseas with the State Department for 30 years. She and her husband, married since 1949, retired from the State Department in 1979 and settled down in Alexandria. Mrs. Fitzgerald’s family has law enforcement ties, as her great-uncle and her uncle were both Texas Rangers and her great-uncle was among the first marshals assigned to the Montana Territory.
Mrs. Fitzgerald had been volunteering at the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office teaching art to jail inmates. One day while walking their dog, Ruby’s husband was the unfortunate victim of a robbery. She decided that her volunteer efforts would serve a better purpose at the police agency and she began volunteering in 1986. She has worked in the agency's Crime Prevention Unit ever since. Her regular tasks include answering citizen phone calls requesting crime statistics, handling requests for police patches, and helping with special events.
Mrs. Fitzgerald says that the most enjoyable part about volunteering with the APD is "working with people who I feel are accomplishing something and are doing great things for the people of Alexandria by protecting them. I believe that the APD is one of the best agencies in the country."
Emery Antonucci: Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department
Originally from Brownsville, Pennsylvania, he has lived in Alexandria since 1954. He is a widower with 2 children and 2 grandsons. Prior to retiring in 1985, he worked for Prudential Insurance Co for 31 years. He has been in the Neighborhood Watch program for the Lincolnia Hills neighborhood since 1985. An Alexandria police officer (John Kochensparger) talked with him about starting a volunteer program at the Alexandria Police Department and asked Emery if he would consider taking the role of the volunteer coordinator. He agreed and has managed the volunteer program since 1989. He has also served as the criminal justice representative for AARP, talking to other jurisdictions about using volunteers in their police agencies. His regular tasks at work involve recruiting new volunteers, reviewing applications, talking with police commanders to assess needs, making assignments, and tracking work hours. Mr. Antonucci meets with the agency’s deputy chiefs on a quarterly basis and with the chief of police annually for the purpose of reviewing the program. Emery says that he most enjoys "the people I get to work with and the respect that the whole agency has given the volunteer program. The way in which all staff have accepted us makes it very enjoyable."
Rodrigo Guajardo: Alexandria, Virginia, Police Department
Born in Chile, he has been married for 9 years and has 3 children. He owns Infotrek, an information technology company. He began working with the Alexandria Police Department in 1984 as a Spanish translator, riding with patrol officers. He then began work with the Automated Systems Division by writing computer database programs and doing software engineering. He also now organizes the Spanish translator ride-along schedule. Rodrigo feels that his contribution allows the police officers more time to do their jobs when he can help with the computer systems. To Mr. Guajardo, the most enjoyable part of working as a volunteer is "realizing that I can make a difference helping both the officers and the agency as a whole. By helping the agency to get the job done, I am helping provide a better service and a safer city for the citizens of Alexandria. Besides I am making great friends there too."
