An undaunted desire to help underprivileged youth and give
generously of her time to better the community netted one of
Hollister’s finest the award for professional achievement from the
Women Peace Officers Association this month.
Hollister – An undaunted desire to help underprivileged youth and give generously of her time to better the community netted one of Hollister’s finest the award for professional achievement from the Women Peace Officers Association this month.
Officer Rosie Betanio, a four-year veteran and team leader of the department’s Juvenile Impact Program – an early intervention program for “at risk” youth and first-time offenders – will be awarded with the prestigious award next month in front of female police officers from across the state, said incoming WPOA President Maria Trevino.
The time and energy she devotes to her work makes her an example to not only other female officers, but the men as well, Trevino said.
“She’s an example for every officer, but still more male cadets are going into the academy. It encourages women to consider law enforcement as a career, despite the obstacles you do go through as a woman,” Trevino said. “Every officer strives to be more than what they can be and give back to the community, and Rosie exemplifies that.”
Betanio, one of five female officers on the force, was nominated for the award by Hollister Police Chief Jeff Miller, who gave her a two-page glowing recommendation, Trevino said.
Miller said he nominated Betanio, who recently gave birth to her first child and is still out on maternity leave, for the hard work she’s done and her dedication to the department and the community.
“She’s an example not only for everyone in our department, but for officers everywhere and female officers,” Miller said. “It shows we’re fortunate to have someone of Rosie’s caliber working in Hollister. It brings recognition to the Hollister police and shows we are a professional organization, we have good people and they perform well.”
Besides her work with the Juvenile Impact Program, which has played a large role in the success of approximately 115 youth who have graduated from the program, Betanio has been instrumental in a number of other community programs, Trevino said.
Betanio received outstanding evaluations from members of the department’s drug and gang awareness groups, family counseling programs and Hollister’s Family Wellness Program – of which she is the lead instructor, Trevino said. And because she is bilingual, she reaches twice as many people, she said.
Receiving the award is a great personal achievement for Betanio, but her hard work shines a positive light on the entire department, Trevino said.
“No. 1, it’s good for the department in that the department nurtures and recognizes their people on the front lines, and that’s always good to do because they work so hard,” she said. “And it shows that Hollister is progressive.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
