Roman Forest Officer of the Year Award: Recognizing Consistent E

Roman Forest Officer of the Year Award: Recognizing Consistent ExcellenceRoman Forest Officer of the Year AwardThe Officer of the Year is not always that officer that made a one-time honorable act of bravery but rather that officer that is consistent in their contribution to this department.Recipients should demonstrate and continually promote the Department’s goals and mission. Areas of consideration should include exceptional work ethic, expertise and integrity, superior overall performance in his or her areas of responsibility, initiative to take on commitments above and beyond the call of duty, exceptional ability to interact with peers and the public in crisis situations as well as day to day activities, and exceptional contributions to the Department and community.For many years, when trying to choose an officer of the year, Chief Carlisle’s first thought is a particular employee who isn’t quite qualified to receive the award. But that has now changed. If there was such an award as Employee of the Decade, this officer of six-months has defiantly earned it.
I am proud to recognize, Jackie Garza, as Officer of the Year.Jackie Garza has only been a peace officer for 6 months but has been a member of our force for nearly ten years and has made a decade’s worth of contributions to the agency. She always strives to better our agency, follow the rules, and is a team player. Jackie is a very approachable person and someone you can always count on. She always displays unofficial leadership among the troops. Garza was elected Secretary of the Roman Forest Police Association years ago and has served the organization well for many years.Jackie Garza worked as the Secretary to the Chief of Police and has held a TCOLE Telecommunications License since 2015. She also serves as our TAC officer for TCIC and has passed every state audit. Jackie not only has assisted the Chief of Police but has assisted officers in investigations and many other tasks over the years. In 2022, Jackie advised Chief Carlisle that she wanted to go to the police academy to become a police officer of the Roman Forest Police Department. This made Chief Carlisle very proud.Jackie attended the Police Academy, full-time, from February to August 2023.While in the academy, she came into work nearly every evening to ensure all her duties at the office were completed. During the academy, the academy director, Glenn Riddle, reported that Cadet Jackie Garza displayed many leadership traits and that she was one of the top performers of the class. Riddle also recognized that she even helped many of her fellow cadets, that were having trouble, study and pass the TCOLE exam.Officer Jackie Garza graduated the police academy in August 2023 and has been proudly serving in her destined role as a Roman Forest Police Officer ever since. Jackie Garza has earned the respect of her fellow officers, as well as her chain of command, and even more so, her Chief of Police. Jackie truly has earned this year’s Officer of the Year Award.Jackie Garza has also been nominated for this year’s East Montgomery County Outstanding Officer of the Year. For these reasons and many more, Jackie Garza is deserving of being this year’s Officer of the Year.