2009 Jackson Police Employee of the Year

Officer Tony Matthews, SRO

Chandler Makena Billingham, an 8th grade student nominated Officer Tony Matthews as the 2009 Employee of the Year for the Jackson Police Department.  Along with Chandler, officers also nominated Tony. Chandler’s nomination reads as follows:

Tony has been a highlight of our year.  He has been everything we need and more.  In class, at lunch, even in the morning he has been nothing but a hero to Jackson Hole Middle School.  Tony helps us in class when we need it, has helped the teachers and he is an amazing addition to our school. The thing about Tony is, he is ALWAYS nice and sensitive.  He is amazing and helps us with anything.  If you have a problem, go to Tony. Tony has gotten us through this year and personally I can’t wait until we see him next year.  Jackson Middle School would not be able to stand the mental or physical problems that we have without him.  He has been the best addition to our school yet.  We love him and will never forget him.
                                          
Two Nominations from Jackson Police Department personnel: 
                                                   
This is the second year that this officer has represented our department as the School Resource Officer.  The hard work and dedication he has put into this position is phenomenal.  He attends football games, track meets and dances.  He teaches classes on drug and alcohol abuse as well as teaches the younger children about “stranger danger”.  The students at the JH Middle School can expect to see his smiling face every morning promptly at 7:20 a.m.   Tony is always cheerful and goes out of his way to ensure that each student feels he/she could approach him with whatever his/her “problem of the day” is.   Tony has been able to build relationships with each one of the students and in turn intercepts and often resolves many situations before they become a crisis.  This has significantly helped out the patrol officers because it has completely eliminated a need for their response.

Tony is HIGHLY regarded by all the teachers, staff and students.  On days that Tony feels the need to take a vacation or go hunting….HE IS GREATLY MISSED!!!  I have heard Tony say on a number of occasions how rewarding his job has been.  Many of us do not see or hear about the situations that Tony deals with on a day to day basis.  Tony, thank you for all your hard work!!  I cannot thank you enough for stepping up to the plate and taking the School Resource Officer position.  You are good at what you do and the kids love you!  

Being assigned to dayshift I have had the opportunity to work with him and to work with the school and/or students at times.  Hardly a day goes by that someone in the community doesn’t tell me how much they like Tony at the schools and what a great job he is doing.  He takes most of the juvenile cases and completes them with little to no assistance, which has taken a burden off of both investigations and patrol at a time when staffing levels are low.  Tony interacts in a positive way with the youth and they seem to trust him.  In addition, he has been a great ambassador to our image through his positive interactions throughout the community.  Tony has been a great asset and source of information for the department and his contributions should not go unrecognized.

Nicely done Officer Matthews!  YOU ROCK!