Community Policing Award

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COMMUNITY POLICING AWARD

Sergeant Frank Russo

Sergeant Russo began his service with the Department on April 16, 1990 when he was hired as a Police Intern.  In that role, Frank assisted with many tasks while assigned to the then Community Services Division including helping with vehicle abatement, conducting station tours, making evidence runs to the lab, assisting at special events, giving presentations, and working the Records counter, to name just a few.  All the while, he participated in an extensive training program in order to prepare him to become a police officer.  Frank achieved this lifelong goal on July 26, 1991 when he was selected to become one of Monterey's finest.

Being a Monterey native, Frank has always kept the best interests of Monterey in mind.  Long before the term "Community Policing" came into vogue, Frank recognized and appreciated the value of community outreach and collaboration and practiced these principles daily in his policing activities. His humble beginning as a Police Intern, coupled with his later experience as a Community Action Team member,  provided Frank the opportunity to build upon and hone his inherent sense of community pride, spirit, and commitment.

As a patrol sergeant, Frank was a leader among his peers, setting an outstanding example of how to intertwine community policing into his everyday role as a supervisor.  When the Monterey Community Policing Initiative (MCPI) went live in 2005, Frank volunteered to supervise one of two pilot Community Policing Areas (CPA's) within the City.  His responsiveness to the residents of that CPA helped solidify the community's trust of the team and acceptance of the MCPI.  As the initiative developed, Frank made certain his two teams remained active and responsive to issues occurring in CPA's 17 & 18.  Whether leading his teams in a clean up of Laguna Grande Park or dealing with commercial vehicle parking impacts on North Fremont, Frank set high expectations for his CPA teams.  And Frank lead by example, always willing to roll up his sleeves and do whatever needed to be done to get the job done, including getting his hands dirty.

Due in large part to his commitment to community policing, in January 2009 Frank was chosen to supervise the Community Policing Initiative and, even more importantly, to champion the effort.  Within the first three months, Frank began suggesting creative modifications to the Initiative and its operation.  It is clear that Frank was comfortable thinking outside the box and the sometimes archaic and rigid framework of conventional policing.  Since Frank's appointment, he has demonstrated that he is just what the Initiative and the Community needed at this critical juncture. 

Our Mission Statement, "Responsive to All, Second to None, Every Time," very accurately reflects Frank's approach to providing exceptional police service to our customers - the public.  This is not something Frank has to think about too consciously, because it's an innate part of who he is as a person and as a Monterey police officer.

We are pleased to recognize and honor Sergeant
Frank Russo as the recipient of the 2008 Monterey Police Department Community Policing Award.