3rd Annual Public Safety Luncheon presented by Rotary of Folsom honors 7 for their service to community
City leaders and members of the Folsom community gathered Thursday afternoon at the Folsom Community Center for the annual Public Safety Awards Luncheon honoring Folsom’s exceptional members of the Police and Fire Departments. The event is sponsored and presented by the Rotary Club of Folsom in collaboration with the Sierra Law Enforcement Chaplaincy and the two agencies.
The event recognizes members of the Folsom Police Department and Folsom Fire Department for their contributions to public safety throughout the year. This marks the third consecutive year the event has been hosted by the Rotarians. Seven individuals in all from the combined departments were honored.
The event opened with the presentation of the colors by the Folsom Police Department’s Honor Guard, followed by an Invocation
From the Folsom Police Department, Officer Bethany Ulm was named the department’s 2024 Officer of the Year. Officer Ulm joined the department in February 2023 after completing the Sacramento Police Department Academy. Ironically, she was presented with the award on National Police Woman Day.
“Bethany is one of the shining stars of our police department; she’s the poster child ambassador for the mission, vision, and values of the department,” said Lockhart. “Her work ethic is second to none. From her exceptional investigations and flawless report-writing skills to her relentless pursuit of criminal behavior, her work product is superior. She’s the kind of officer who works hard to take up problems and create solutions. Everyone around the PD loves Bethany because of the uplifting and energetic way she carries herself. I wish there was a way we could bottle up her positivity and energy.”
Lockhart then shared comments from staff who nominated Officer Ulm for the award. These included: “She’s a hard worker and always has a smile on her face; she is a shining star for the Folsom Police Department. She is always pleasantly upbeat, and her positive attitude is infectious. She works hard on patrol and doesn’t shy away from challenges. She’s innovative and always looking for ways to improve situations where she sees room for improvement. She has been consistent in her drive to enforce the law, is highly proactive, and always willing to assist other officers and units. She displays a positive attitude and embodies the values of our Folsom Police Department. And last but not least, she is an outstanding officer,” he concluded.
Records Technician Kelly Hess was named Professional Staff Member of the Year. Hess first joined the department in 2007 as a part-time records technician, transitioning into a full-time role in 2014. After ten years of what Lockhart described as “exceptional service,” she was promoted to senior records technician earlier this year.
“Kelly’s dedicated and caring personality is a joy to be around. She has routinely been a go-to person for many years in the records division. With unprecedented vacancies over the past few years in the records division, it was common to see Kelly working in her cubicle on a Sunday or late at night,” said Lockhart. “What’s most notable about that is she wasn’t doing it for the money—she was doing it to just make sure the department was running efficiently.”
Lockhart shared comments from staff members who nominated her, which included: “Sweet as pie; always tries to make the job with an officer as easy as possible; she often makes corrections to officers’ reports; she is always willing to help, fills in wherever needed; good team player; she is kind, a great teacher, and very thorough in her work.”
Dispatch Supervisor Tina Dewater was recognized as Dispatcher of the Year, an award determined annually in May. Dewater has been with the department for the past decade, coming to Folsom after serving as a dispatcher in El Dorado County. This past year, Dewater was promoted to her current supervisory role.
“Tina’s work ethic, along with her personality, has always been very impressive. One of the most impressive qualities about Tina is her can-do attitude and positive approach to her job,” Lockhart said. “Her ability to just do her job and do it well may seem simple, but as we all know, it’s not always that easy, yet she makes it look easy.”
Lockhart went on to share some of the comments her colleagues made when nominating her for the award: “Tina’s an experienced dispatcher and a positive influence both within communications and with everyone she comes in contact with. While fulfilling her duties, Tina’s selection was earned and well-deserved. She is always courteous, has no attitude, and thinks ahead. Tina is a well-rounded team player who always makes time for other people. Her positive attitude and strong work ethic speak for themselves. And last but not least, as one person wrote, ‘she’s the best.’”
The 2024 Supervisor of the Year Award went to Sgt. Mike Gruenberg, who began his career with Folsom Police in 2007. He was promoted to corporal, then to sergeant in 2022, and previously served with the United States Marines before joining the department.
“During Mike’s time as an officer, he served as a K-9 handler for many years and now supervises our K-9 team. He has been instrumental in building our K-9 team and creating relationships with regional partners, making our K-9 team a regional asset,” said Lockhart. “Since becoming a sergeant, Mike has been assigned to our Neighborhood Services Division, where he oversees our Problem-Oriented Policing Team, our School Resource Officers, and animal control. One of Mike’s greatest qualities is his ability to build a team. I’ve never seen anyone do it as well as Mike does.”
“He’s represented the department with class at City Council meetings,” Lockhart continued. “All supervisors face challenges, but I feel Mike has taken on a lot outside his scope of work and done a great job. Some staff comments about him included that he is an amazing supervisor who constantly looks out for the officers serving under him as well as the department, and he continues to wear many hats.”
From the Folsom Fire Department, three personnel were honored for their service in 2024. Fire Chief Ken Cusano shared insights on each recipient.
Firefighter-Paramedic Scott Vazquez received the Firefighter of the Year award.
“We are honored to recognize Scott for his outstanding contributions to the Folsom Fire Department,” Cusano shared. “His dedication and expertise have made a lasting impact on our team and the community. Scott’s knowledge and skills in fire control, rope rescue, and teaching have elevated the department.”
Captain Jake Bisetti was named Supervisor of the Year.
“Captain Bisetti exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding fire captain,” Cusano said. “He frequently volunteers for challenging shifts and works closely with our labor organization to advocate for employees. His leadership has also strengthened the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), making it one of the best-equipped and well-trained teams in the region.”
Deputy Fire Marshal Michelle Toledo was honored as the department’s 2024 Professional Staff Member of the Year.
“Michelle has consistently demonstrated professionalism and leadership,” Cusano shared. “Despite managing fire prevention and life safety inspections with limited resources, she has delivered exceptional results while fostering teamwork and collaboration.”
The Rotary Club of Folsom sponsors the annual awards and works closely with the departments and organizations like the Sierra Law Enforcement Chaplaincy to make the event happen. Retired Police Captain and Rotarian Paul Bonaventure has long been the chief organizer of the luncheon. This year, he added a personal touch by barbecuing for the event, a departure from previous catered luncheons.
In addition to the awards, each winner was presented with a commemorative Citizen watch from Folsom jeweler Adrian Blanco, a longtime supporter of local fire and police and the current president of the Folsom Police Officers Association. The award winners were also honored with certificates of recognition from Congressman Kevin Kiley and Assemblyman Josh Hoover.Ramesh Dontha, president of the Folsom Rotary Club, closed the ceremony by acknowledging both departments and the members of all Folsom area Rotary Clubs who attended along with members of Folsom City Council, City Staff,, media in attendance which was Folsom Times and general members of the community. He also made special recognition of Bonaventure for his commitment to the annual event
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