Police Chief Curt Zieman received the Patriot Award from the Kansas Committee of the Employer Support the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Monday evening at the City Commission meeting.
Jim Wishart, with the ESGR, presented the award.
“We work with the employer community, civic groups and military groups, particularly, the Guard and Reserve,” he said. He explained they provide education and information to employers about time off for training and deployment, but what they like to do most is present awards.
“We start with our most basic award,” Wishart continued, “which is our Patriot Award.”
Any member of the Guard or Reserves, or their spouse, can nominate an employer – particularly their boss – who makes it easy for them to wear their two hats.
“They fill out a nomination form and list what it is that makes it particularly easy for them to be a citizen-soldier, as well as an employee,” Wishart said.
Zieman’s nomination was submitted by Sergeant Brett Sanchez, who just returned from his most recent deployment that day. Sanchez serves in the Air National Guard.
“He just makes it really easy for me to continue to be in the Guard and do that part of my life I enjoy,” Sanchez said. “If I get orders short notice or drills short notice or anything short notice, he doesn’t question it. It makes it very easy for me to do that.”
Sanchez also wrote on the nomination form that Zieman and the rest of the department keep in touch with his family while he is deployed to make sure everything is going alright for them, which is really appreciated.
The Patriot Award recognized Zieman for protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in the Guard and Reserves.