Hilenne Chemas knew in the fourth grade that she wanted to become a police officer. After Chemas graduated from high school, her fourth grade teacher mailed her a letter that she had written to herself in the fourth grade.
“I wrote in the letter that I had fun playing with the lights and the sirens,” said Chemas, adding that the letter was written after visiting a firehouse in Weehawken with her class. “That must have been when I knew.”
After this month, Chemas was assured that she made the right decision. Chemas was named West New York’s first officer of the month for April 2001.
The officer of the month program was started this year to help improve morale among the department and recognize individual officers for their efforts.
“We started this program to bring the recognition factor to the department that it rightfully deserves,” said West New York Police Director Joseph Pelliccio.
“We hope to honor an officer that performs above standard in West New York each month,” said Deputy Chief Thomas O’Donnell.
West New York now has the biggest police department in the town’s history, and according to Commissioner of Public safety Sal Vega. He said it is also the most efficient.
“We want the officers to realize that it is all about them,” said Vega. “The reason that the department is functioning as well as it does is because of them. It is because of their hard work that the police department is more efficient.”
Being awarded
This past Monday, the street outside the police station was temporarily closed off in the morning. The officers on duty at the time were lined up outside.
“I told them that they were going to be inspected,” said Pelliccio. But instead, he announced the winner of the award.
“I knew that I was nominated,” said Chemas, who said that the first thing she did after being told she won was call her mother. “But I had no clue that I had won.”
Chemas was among several officers nominated for this award this first month. According to the program rules, any candidate can be nominated by their command staff members, team leaders, unit commanders, division heads or the members of the award committee. The winner is chosen based on a list of criteria that include, community involvement, leadership, planning and organization, attendance, appearance, and technical and professional knowledge.
The awards committee is comprised of the deputy chief, three captains, one lieutenant, one sergeant and two patrol officers. Two of the officers will also serve as representatives of both the Police Supervisor’s Association and the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association.
“The committee is a representation of the department,” said Pelliccio. “There is representation from every division and rank.”
Chemas, who came on the job a little more than two years ago, was awarded based on an excellent DWI arrest and her involvement with the Fatal Vision Program at Memorial High School.
The perks
As officer of the month, Chemas’ picture and a citation explaining why she was chosen will hang in the lobby of the police department. Chemas’ name will also be placed on the theme plaque that will also hang in the lobby, and will have the names of all future winners of the award as well.
“All other officers will look at that [plaque] and say this is something positive,” said O’Donnell.
Chemas also received a $50 gift certificate to her favorite restaurant and is now eligible for the officer of the year award that will be chosen next May.