SBSO LT. JENNIFER GUTIERREZ RECEIVES CRIMESTOPPERS COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Lt. Jennifer Gutierrez was recently named a recipient of the 2023 Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust – Crimestoppers Outstanding Service to the Community Award.
Darlene Cusanza, president and chief executive officer of Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans, said this new award is aimed to honor law enforcement officers who display the core values of the oath: Honor, Character, Courage, Public Trust, Service to Our Communities, Reverence for the Law, Commitment to Leadership, Integrity in All We Say and Do, Respect for People and Quality Through Continuous Improvement.
“This officer should be recognized by their law enforcement peers and the community for efforts that have gone above and beyond the call of duty,” Cusanza said. “They should display high personal standards of honesty, integrity, moral fortitude, leadership, and selflessness.”
Cusanza said recipients also must show leadership qualities in the following areas: victim’s advocacy and service, heroic acts of service, outreach to community and citizens in need, implementation of innovative programs to improve the needs of the community with special emphasis on programs to juveniles.
Sheriff James Pohlmann said Lt. Gutierrez is the epitome of what a good police officer should be.
“Lt. Gutierrez is hardworking and committed to making a difference in her community,” the Sheriff said. “She does a great job of being brave in the face of danger but she can also show a softer side when needed.”
Lt. Gutierrez, a 24-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, has been a detective with the Criminal Investigations Bureau since 2004. She began her career in law enforcement in 1999 as a member of the Corrections Division at the Parish Prison. She also served as a school Resource Officer from 2001 until 2004 when she became a detective.
In 2019, Lt. Gutierrez was awarded the Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard-Arabi Life Saver Award for her efforts to save an infant who was unresponsive after being born prematurely at his mother’s home in Chalmette.
Lt. Gutierrez also was selected by the Kiwanis as the 2018-19 LAMISSTENN District’s International Lawperson of the Year from a group of nominees submitted by Kiwanis clubs over a tri-state area including Louisiana, Mississippi and western Tennessee.
Through her work as a detective, Lt. Gutierrez has handled numerous cases involving domestic violence and also was responsible for writing the department’s standard operating policy on how domestic violence cases are handled.
In addition to being a certified polygraphist since 2019, Lt. Gutierrez also is the Sheriff’s Office coordinator for the Louisiana Crime Victims Reparations which helps innocent victims and their families when they have no other means of paying for the financial cost of crime. The fund is administered by the Crime Victims Reparations Board under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
Lt. Gutierrez also is active in the community with several organizations that focus on positive initiatives for area youth.
As a board member of the League of Angels, a sports league for St. Bernard Parish children and adults with special needs, Lt. Gutierrez helps facilitate organized recreational activities which provide participants with a chance to bond with other individuals who face similar challenges, while building character and self-esteem and creating lasting friendships.
Lt. Gutierrez participates in the St. Bernard Parish Public School System’s annual Special Olympics and with the yearly fundraiser crawfish boil for Strengthening Outcomes with Autism Resources, or S.O.A.R. Southshore, a parent-created non-profit organization that offers therapies, educational advocacy, monthly networking, support groups and social events.
She also is a former past president and board member of the Women’s Club at St. Pius X Catholic School in New Orleans.
Lt. Gutierrez’s dedication to her profession’s motto to protect and serve has not gone unnoticed by her fellow deputies and ranking officers.
Col. Chad Clark, commander of the Criminal Investigations Bureau and Lt. Gutierrez’s supervisor, said he is not surprised by her accomplishments.
“She is very well-deserving of this award,” Col. Clark said. “You can always depend on her to get the job done.”
Lt. Gutierrez said she is honored to be the first recipient of Crimestoppers Outstanding Service to the Community Award, and is grateful to have a job that allows her the chance to make a real difference in people’s lives.
“My philosophy in life is to always give back,” she said. “My life is full of many blessings; a loving and healthy family, a healthy son, and a successful career. Because I’ve been so fortunate, I believe that I must always give back to those facing great challenges.”
Lt. Gutierrez said it’s an honor to be recognized by Sheriff Pohlmann and his command staff, “not only for my dedication to the Sheriff’s Office, but also for my commitment to our community, especially the League of Angels.”
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