16/10/2024
Our 2024 Conference kicked off last night with our annual banquet and awards ceremony. It was truly a night full of laughter and celebration of outstanding members in the community along with their law enforcement partners.
Sgt. Donald Stewart from the Michigan State Police won the Thomas McCutcheon Sr. Outstanding Crime Prevention Practitioner of the Year Award. Sgt. Stewart has served 26 years with the Michigan State Police. He has become a trendsetter in community policing, he has both created community engagement programs and enthusiastically implemented existing, evidence-based programming. His efforts throughout his career have not only promoted public safety but have also resulted in additional crime prevention benefits. He is a regular instructor within MSP's Teaching, education, and mentoring (T.E.A.M.) School Liaison Program. He also introduced tactical first aid to students at Michigan State University following the February 2023 active shooter tragedy. Sgt. Stewart invested in every community he worked in, building relationships and supporting development of the youth. Sgt. Stewart is a powerhouse and probably one of the hardest working men that we know.
Rachel McDuffee and Craig Finney from Gentex Corporation won the Outstanding Corporate Award. Their core values at Gentex are integrity, compassion, innovation, and diversity. They seek to make a difference in the communities where their employees live, work, serve, and play. Gentex partners with many schools, and programs within the community and has grown to be one of the biggest employers in Ottawa County. For Gentex being a part of the community not only provides a sense of belonging but also allows the company to give back by experiences, mentoring, and participating in events that benefit others.
Officer Kaitlin Bernardo from the Grand Rapids Police Department won the Special Project in the Field of Crime Prevention Award. Kaitlin In 2021 took on extra duties as a Female Michigan department of Corrections Liaison Office for GRPD and trained as the supervisor of the Volunteer Program and Women's CLEAR. She meets weekly in person with females paroled form prison and probationers. Each week she makes them a homemade meal and then talks with them about drug and alcohol dependency, mental illness, and dealing with past traumas and resilience, breaking " the cycle" of reoffending and other issues that effect the girls once back home. not only has she taught them basic life skills she has helped mentor several women. She helps them get all of the essentials they need to get started in their new life. Kaitlin is always looking for ways to make life better for those who need a hand up and who have had their worst day.
Our board could not have been prouder to hand out these awards last night. Thank you for everything you continue to do in your communities.
