SEDRO-WOOLEY, Wash – The Sedro-Wooley Police Department was recently honored by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense office, with its Above & Beyond award for its support of its employees who serve in the Reserve Components. The Above & Beyond is awarded to employers in recognition of supporting its employees who serve in the Reserve Components beyond the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, commonly referred to as USERRA.
Police Chief Dan McIlraith accepted the ESGR Above & Beyond Award on behalf of the Department. The award was presented by John Van Dalen, ombudsman with ESGR at the evening regular scheduled Sedro-Woolley City Council meeting, which was attended by Mayor J. Johnson, seven Council Members, and the general public.
“The ESGR Above and Beyond Award was created to publicly recognize U.S. employers providing extraordinary patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said Van Dalen. “Many employers provide support far beyond what USERRA requires, including pay differential to offset the loss of wages, and extension of health care benefits to complement coverage provided by the military when their employees mobilized.”
Sedro-Wooley Police Department received the award in appreciation of their support of the department employees who are currently serving or are on deployments. The award was initiated by Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Bryan Hull, a police officer with the Sedro-Wooley Police Department.
“The police department reaches out to all the active service members, through in-person contacts, emails, letters, and invites to gatherings,” said Hull when explaining the extra support received by those who serve. “During the department’s BBQ and holiday party the families of those deployed members were even included. The department even organized work parties to work at deployed member’s home.”
“To us here at the Sedro-Woolley Police Department, supporting those who defend our country is what we do,” said McIlraith. “In our recruiting and hiring member for law enforcement, we specifically look for those with current or previous military service. The active reserve force receives extra training we can also use.”
During the presentation of the Mayor Julie Johnson and Police Chief McIlraith signed an ESGR Statement of Support.
The Statement of Support confirms that the Sedro-Wooley Police Department and the City of Sedro-Wooley joins other employers in pledging:
“Sedro-Wooley Police Department and the City of Sedro-Wooley join a cadre of Fortune 500 companies, state and federal, agencies and thousands of America’s employers in demonstrating support for our armed forces,” added Van Dalen. “By signing the Statement of Support, Sedro-Wooley Police Department and the City of Sedro-Wooley are sending a clear message to its employees that while they are serving their country, they do not have to worry about their civilian jobs.”
Photo caption 1: Sedro-Woolley WA Police Department Chief Dan McIlraith (second from the left) accepted the ESGR Above & Beyond Award which was presented by John Van Dalen, an ombudsman with the Washington ESGR (far left). Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Bryan Hull (second from the right), a Police Officer nominated the city’s police force for the award. Also at the presentation was Officer Jed Cates (far right), who also serves in the Coast Guards Reserves.
Photo caption 2: Sedro-Wooley Police Department Chief Dan McIlraith signing an ESGR Statement of Support at the conclusion of the Above & Beyond Presentation.
Photo caption 3: Sedro-Wooley Mayor Julia Johnson signing an ESGR Statement of Support at the conclusion of the Above & Beyond Presentation which occurred at the City Council meeting.