City of Fairfield, Ohio serving our community with pride
Related Links: 2010 STAR Of The Year - Sandy Sears
Recently, a Fairfield resident completed a form online nominating Police Officer Dennis Valentini for a STAR Award. She had received a disturbing telephone call, supposedly from the State of Ohio, regarding a fraudulent check from her husband. The caller was uncooperative and insistent and went as far to say that she would serve a summons to her husband at work. As they were leaving for vacation the next day and not wanting this weighing on their mind, she stated "When the new police station opened several years ago, my family had an extended conversation with Dennis. We went away at that time feeling so good about our Fairfield police that I have always remembered him. He had given me his card at that time and I thought I would just give him a call in case he was able to help." Of course, Officer Valentini helped her. He contacted the caller and surmised that she was not with the State, but rather with a collection agency and was contacting everyone in the area with their common name. Officer Valentini reported back to them and informed them how to handle the call. This resident nominated Officer Valentini as a way of saying thank you for going the extra mile.
That is just one of the many thank you notes and letters of commendation citing his compassion, his above-and-beyond efforts, his professionalism, his fairness, and how he treats everyone with respect.
Police Chief Mike Dickey and Sgt. Pete Lagemann also submitted nominations for Officer Valentini for a STAR Award. Chief Dickey stated: "I have met and worked with thousands of police officers and other public employees from across the United States. Officer Valentini is truly one of those in the top one percent in terms of meeting and exceeding the expectations of our jobs and the requirements of this award." Officer Valentini has never lost the perspective that individuals matter." "Dennis has the uncanny ability to make any individual he comes in contact with believe that his world revolves around them. And that is believable because it actually does."
Officer Valentini presented the idea of the Senior Citizen Referral Program to his supervisors, created the proper report forms, and then implemented the program on his own. When officers come across a senior citizen who might be in need of assistance, for example, with crime prevention, home maintenance, utilities, or personal care, the Officer completes and submits a Senior Citizen Referral Card. This card goes to Officer Valentini and he addresses the problem directly or works with local service organizations or volunteer groups to make sure the citizen's needs are met. The assistance provided is recorded in the Police Department's computer system for future reference. In the past year that this program has been in place, over forty senior citizens have benefited.
This past summer, Officer Valentini organized a Senior Fair at the Community Arts Center. He invited representatives from local service organizations and retailers to participate and created and distributed posters and fliers to advertise the event. Senior citizens from the Fairfield community were able to get free medical tests, get information on local senior activities, drop off expired medications, speak to representatives about health insurance, and get information on assistance provided by many local senior service providers, all in one place and all at no charge. Many compliments were received about these programs and hopefully will become annual events.
We are very proud to name Dennis Valentini as the 2011 STAR Award winner!
2011 STAR EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARDED TO DENNIS VALENTINI
Recently, a Fairfield resident completed a form online nominating Police Officer Dennis Valentini for a STAR Award. She had received a disturbing telephone call, supposedly from the State of Ohio, regarding a fraudulent check from her husband. The caller was uncooperative and insistent and went as far to say that she would serve a summons to her husband at work. As they were leaving for vacation the next day and not wanting this weighing on their mind, she stated "When the new police station opened several years ago, my family had an extended conversation with Dennis. We went away at that time feeling so good about our Fairfield police that I have always remembered him. He had given me his card at that time and I thought I would just give him a call in case he was able to help." Of course, Officer Valentini helped her. He contacted the caller and surmised that she was not with the State, but rather with a collection agency and was contacting everyone in the area with their common name. Officer Valentini reported back to them and informed them how to handle the call. This resident nominated Officer Valentini as a way of saying thank you for going the extra mile.
That is just one of the many thank you notes and letters of commendation citing his compassion, his above-and-beyond efforts, his professionalism, his fairness, and how he treats everyone with respect.
Police Chief Mike Dickey and Sgt. Pete Lagemann also submitted nominations for Officer Valentini for a STAR Award. Chief Dickey stated: "I have met and worked with thousands of police officers and other public employees from across the United States. Officer Valentini is truly one of those in the top one percent in terms of meeting and exceeding the expectations of our jobs and the requirements of this award." Officer Valentini has never lost the perspective that individuals matter." "Dennis has the uncanny ability to make any individual he comes in contact with believe that his world revolves around them. And that is believable because it actually does."
Officer Valentini presented the idea of the Senior Citizen Referral Program to his supervisors, created the proper report forms, and then implemented the program on his own. When officers come across a senior citizen who might be in need of assistance, for example, with crime prevention, home maintenance, utilities, or personal care, the Officer completes and submits a Senior Citizen Referral Card. This card goes to Officer Valentini and he addresses the problem directly or works with local service organizations or volunteer groups to make sure the citizen's needs are met. The assistance provided is recorded in the Police Department's computer system for future reference. In the past year that this program has been in place, over forty senior citizens have benefited.
This past summer, Officer Valentini organized a Senior Fair at the Community Arts Center. He invited representatives from local service organizations and retailers to participate and created and distributed posters and fliers to advertise the event. Senior citizens from the Fairfield community were able to get free medical tests, get information on local senior activities, drop off expired medications, speak to representatives about health insurance, and get information on assistance provided by many local senior service providers, all in one place and all at no charge. Many compliments were received about these programs and hopefully will become annual events.
We are very proud to name Dennis Valentini as the 2011 STAR Award winner!