During a Special Council Presentation, surrounded by their peers and colleagues, City of Homestead Police Officers Jesus Gonzalez and Howard Diener were the recipients of the Officer of the Month Award, for November and December 2014, respectively. Both officers have received this honor twice.
“It is with gratitude that we thank you here today for your distinguished service above and beyond the call of duty. And to have these dedicated officers here for the second time is proof that our police department is truly outstanding.” Said Mayor Jeff Porter, “The City of Homestead salutes you!”
Officer Gonzalez was hired by Homestead Police Department as a Dispatcher in 1999. He attended the police academy in 2006 and was a reserve officer for four years before being hired as a full time officer. This is the second Officer of the Month award presented to him. The month of November, 2014 Officer Gonzalez outperformed his entire shift with the 11 arrests, 26 citations, 23 reports prepared, 77 security checks of businesses, stopped 41 vehicles and conducted 8 subject checks while responding to 183 calls for service as the primary officer. He has established himself as a top performer in the force, not only demonstrating excellent investigative skills, but exhibiting an outstanding work ethic as well.
Officer Diener was hired in September, 2009 as a Reserve Officer and two months later, as a full time police officer. This is Officer Diener’s second Officer of the Month award. The month of December 2014, Officer Diener was assigned 99 calls for service as the primary officer, responded as a backup officer 55 times, prepared 20 reports and made 5 arrests. One particular incident that shows Officer Diener’s excellent investigative skills was on December 2nd, 2014 when the city of Homestead experienced two separate armed robberies at opposite ends of the city. A short time later, an alert Officer Diener saw the suspect’s vehicle and made a traffic stop. The victims in both robberies were taken to the traffic stop and positively identified the subjects; their stolen property was ultimately recovered. Officer Diener’s career with the Homestead Police Department has been exemplary, and he continues to lead his shift with the unbreakable motivation of a man who loves his job.
After presenting the officers with their plaques, Homestead Police Chief Al Rolle expressed his pride in these two officers and spoke about the importance of having loved ones inspire their careers. Chief Rolle gave their families a special thanks “because family support is one of the things that makes our officers the best!”
