Rohnert Park Honors Felicity Hartnett As 2022 Officer Of The Year

ROHNERT PARK, CA — The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety congratulated Felicity Hartnett for receiving the 2022 Officer of the Year Award.

Since Dec. 14, 2015, when Hartnett became a member of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety, she has increased the quality of life for the entire community through her proactive policing tactics and extensive community outreach, the Rohnert Park DPS said in a statement.

Serving as a cross-trained Public Safety Officer, Hartnett has contributed significantly to the success of the department through her roles as a police officer, firefighter, and, currently, as the Field Training Officer responsible for recruit training. As a bilingual PSO who is continually examining new ways to build community trust, increase neighborhood safety and emulate the best practices in the public safety industry, she is respected by her colleagues and command staff, the Rohnert Park DPS said.

One of the nominations suggesting Hartnett for the award noted: “PSO Hartnett is a tremendous asset on our team.” The nomination said: “PSO Hartnett is a person whom others seek out for advice, and she is genuinely interested in helping her peers and teaching new and less tenured officers.”

As an example of her dedication to increasing public safety, especially directed at the city's youth, PSO Hartnett coordinated a free Teen Driving Safety Course in 2022, for which she provided the curriculum and scenario training to local high school students.

"The course has been so successful that it is now offered for our English and Spanish-speaking communities, and several of our RPDPS PSOs have also assisted with teaching the class," the Rohnert Park DPS said. "In addition, as a parent herself, PSO Hartnett is heavily involved in working with community organizations and our agency to offer students bike helmets so that they avoid injury while riding."

She regularly monitors the streets near schools to provide students without helmets a replacement, the department said.

"We want to thank PSO Hartnett for her dedication to 'protecting and serving' the public safety needs of the City of Rohnert Park. Congratulations on receiving the 2022 Officer of the Year Award. Please join us in congratulating PSO Felicity Hartnett as our 2022 Officer of the Year."