Congratulations Officer Devin Benson
>Community Resource Officer Devin Benson was awarded Employee of the Month by City Manager Erik Tungate at Monday's City Council Meeting. Officer Benson is an 18 year veteran of the Public Safety Department; held the position of Field Training Officer for many years; was promoted to Investigation Bureau Detective; and served as one of the Department's Elite Investigators.
Officer Benson is currently responsible for what Public Safety Director Steve Cooper calls nearly three positions within the Department. He coordinates and instructs the school and the crossing guard program for three school districts in Oak Park; he's the Department's liaison for Neighborhood Watch and various block clubs; and oversees the Volunteer Parking Enforcement Team. In addition, he coordinates an entire fleet of Public Safety vehicles and is actively involved in City most all major City events, the Citizens Academy, and senior programs.
"The duties and responsibilities associated with the position of the Community Resource Officer comes with great sacrifice," explains Director Cooper, noting the extra hours sometime come after Officer Benson puts in a full days work. "He is often required to come in on holidays and his off days to accommodate these responsibilities and requests often on short notice and with perfect attitude."
"You can't teach what he has," states City Manager Erik Tungate who told those in attendance about the interaction Officer Benson displayed with a child battling stage four Neuroblastoma. "The emotional intelligence, the skill to make this child, and other human beings who come into City Hall, into our lives here in City government is worth its weight in gold, it's amazing. It's a special gift that you have, Officer Benson, and I very much appreciate it." Congratulations Officer Benson. Very well deserved.