The following is from the Arlington Police Department.

Recently the APD was recognized as a "Patriotic Employer" by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (see attached photo). Chief Frederick Ryan proudly accepted the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) award on behalf of the department.

The process began when Officer Steven Conroy nominated Chief Ryan after returning from his most recent deployment in Afghanistan in February of 2012. The "Patriot Award" is not an employer-wide award, but rather one that recognizes supervisors and bosses nominated by a Guardsman or Reservist employee for support provided directly to the nominator.

The Patriot Award reflects the efforts made to support Citizen Warriors through a wide-range of measures including flexible schedules, time off prior to and after deployment, caring for families and granting leaves of absence if needed.

After receiving the award Chief Ryan signed into the Statement of Support Program which is the cornerstone of ESGR’s effort to gain and maintain employer support for the Guard and Reserve. The intent of the program is to increase employer support by encouraging employers to act as advocates for employee participation in the military. Supportive employers are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.

The first Statement of Support was signed on December 13, 1972 in the Office of the Secretary of Defense by the Chairman of the Board of General Motors. President Nixon was the first President to sign a Statement of Support, and in 2005 every federal Cabinet Secretary and all federal agencies signed a Statement of Support to signify their continuing efforts to be model employers.

Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of employers have signed Statements of Support, pledging their support to Guard and Reserve employees. Employers signing a Statement of Support make the following commitments to their employees:

• We fully recognize, honor and enforce the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
• Our managers and supervisors will have the tools they need to effectively manage those employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve.
• We appreciate the values, leadership and unique skills service members bring to the workforce and will encourage opportunities to hire Guardsmen, Reservists and Veterans.
• We will continually recognize and support our country’s service members and their families in peace, in crisis and in war.

The Arlington Police Department is a proud recipient of the Patriotic Employer Award and will continue our unwavering commitment to those employees and their families who make the sacrifice to honorably serve our country in preserving national security.