Above / Members of the Naperville Police Department Communications Section, pictured at the Public Safety Memorial, recently honored veterans with a donation to Pets for Vets.
A project inspired by a desire to give back to the community and enhance a team atmosphere in the Naperville Police Department’s Communications Section culminated with the presentation of a $400 check to the Chicagoland Chapter of Pets for Vets on Veteran’s Day, November 11.
The section’s “Charity Dress Down Days” was the idea of Telecommunicator Michael Stys, who first heard of the fundraiser at a leadership training and thought it was a good way for he and his colleagues to positively interact with the public.
The Communications Section is comprised of the Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which provides emergency and non-emergency radio and telephone communications for all public safety departments, and City Dispatch, which serves the Departments of Public Works and Public Utilities.
“Inherently, we give back to our community every day when we come to work, but this allows us to step up and give back without that prompt from the public,” said Stys. “We don’t always have positive contact with the public. This gives us the opportunity for our interaction to be more positive.”
“Charity Dress Down Days” allow staff members to wear approved “dress down” apparel once a month in exchange for a $5 donation to a charity voted on by all those participating. Six months of collections garnered $400 for this period’s chosen charity, the local chapter of Pets for Vets, which matches trained shelter animals from throughout the Chicagoland area and Northwest Indiana with veterans who are struggling with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and other disorders.
“Medical studies have shown that companion animals significantly improve mental and physical health,” said Michele Quinn, Director of the Chicagoland Chapter of Pets for Vets. “This can include reducing stress, depression and anxiety, symptoms experienced by many military personnel after returning home.”
The Communications Section’s “Charity Dress Down Days” initiative will continue, with proceeds going to a different charity chosen by the group every six months.
News and photo submitted by Commander Jason Arres, Office of Professional Standards, Public Information Officer for the Naperville Police Department
