From left to right: Retired Sgt. Sue Sazima, Retired Sgt. Hughlean Medlea, Officer Patty Katynski, Officer Dymphna O’Neill, and Sgt. Zina Martinez. Sgt. Mark Shepard is also being recognized.
The Second District Baby Shower has been around for many years and benefits many needy families. This program had its beginning when Sgt. Hughlean Medlea (now retired) posted a flyer that the 2nd District was holding a baby shower. It didn’t take long for other officers to join the effort and the donations began to pour in. Several ideas of who would benefit from the baby shower were discussed and the officers agreed on Providence House. The work they were doing to save lives and take care of the precious little ones from across the City of Cleveland was exemplary.
The first baby shower was held in April 2000 and only included the 2nd District officers and their families. But the program expanded and today includes the entire department and community. Over the years these dedicated officers have received donations from North Carolina and Colorado, Walmart and Old Navy in Steelyard Commons, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. It should be noted that the officers have donated their own funds to this amazing program and are quick to thank Captain Keith Sulzer and the 2nd District Community Relations Committee for their assistance in making this program a success. On October 14, 2017 the 2nd District Baby Shower will celebrate its 17th year and hopefully many more to come.
It is because of their dedication to this very worthy cause that the Cleveland Police Foundation is honored to recognize Hughlean Medlea, Sue Sazima, Pat Katynski, Dymphna O’Neill, Mark Shepard and Zina Martinez as Police Officers of the Month for September 2017.
About CPF’s Police Officer of the Month Program…