POLICE DEPARTMENT

EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD & RESERVE

Patriot Award Recipient

Chino Valley Police Chief Charles Wynn was presented with a Patriot Award on January 24 from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). Chief Wynn and the Chino Valley Police Department were recognized as a Patriotic Employer “for contributing to National Security and Protecting Liberty and Freedom by Supporting Employee Participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.” The award was presented by three ESGR representatives Larry Gray, Larry T. Jacobs and Michael Leonard. Mr. Gary is ESGR’s Arizona Military Outreach Coordinator. Mr. Jacobs is the Arizona Area Chair.

In March, Officer Tod Cupp will be deployed for a year, leaving behind his family and employer.

Officer Cupp applied and nominated Chief Wynn for this award because of the support Chief Wynn has demonstrated to him and his family. Chief Wynn went above and beyond supporting, not only taking care of employment and benefit details, but also working with his team to assure Officer Cupp’s wife and kids are taken care of and checked on while Officer Cupp is deployed.

ESGR also presented the Chino Valley Police Department with the Department of Defense official “Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve” for prominent display. The certificate is signed by Chief Wynn, the Secretary of Defense and the ESGR National Chair. His framed certificate states that the Town of Chino Valley Police Department “recognizes the Guard and Reserve are essential to the strength of our Nation and well-being of our communities.” And that CVPD joins with other employers in pledge their support in four vital areas including, “we will continually recognize and support our country’s Service members and their families in peace, in crisis, and in war.”

WHO IS ESGR?

ESGR, a Department of Defense office, was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee’s military commitment.

WHAT IS A PATRIOT AWARD?

The first in ESGR’s series of awards is the Patriot Award. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors and bosses for support provided directly to the nominating service member and his or her family. 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.