SVPD officers earn prestigious award

The Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense office that was established in 1972 to promote understanding and cooperation between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.
For over 40 years, ESGR has served by promoting a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of members of the National Guard and Reserve in the United States. These citizen warriors could not defend and protect us at home and abroad without the continued promise of meaningful civilian employment for themselves and their families. The goal is to meet the needs of Reserve Component members, their families and America’s employers by joining forces with a network of other national, state and local government and professional trade organizations to serve our country together.
ESGR recognizes employers who support their Guard and Reserve employees, by granting a series of Department of Defense awards for excellence.
The first in ESGR’s series of awards for excellence is the Patriot Award. The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.
Patriot Awards are awarded to individual supervisors, not to an entire staff or organization as a whole. A reservist may nominate as many supervisors as is merited, and each will receive a Patriot Award certificate and accompanying lapel pin.
At the City Council Meeting, at the end of January , Donna Lind, Scotts Valley Mayor, presented Patriot Awards to three Scotts Valley Police Department officers. Chief John Weiss, Lieutenant Steve Walpole and Sergeant Wayne Bellville each received a framed certificate and a lapel pin to designate their individual efforts in supervising Officer Joe Susco who also serves in the Army Reserve. Officer Susco said, “The action of these police supervisors exemplifies Scotts Valley Police Department’s commitment to the citizens of ScottsValley as well as our nation as a whole.”
Congratulations, Officers!