Community News
More Awards and Accolades for Deputy Kari Pallotto By Stacey Bomser
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Top: Deputy Kari Pallotto with Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti after accepting the Officer of the Year for Community Policing Award from ASIS. Right: Deputy Kari Pallotto was a medalist at the 2012 Florida Police and Fire Games.
or years, Deputy Kari Pallotto was Weston’s secret weapon. She has served as
Crime Prevention Practitioner for the City of Weston for the past eight years. However, within the past twelve months she has attracted attention from the law enforcement community. Weston BSO Deputy Kari Pallotto was recently recognized as Officer of the Year for Community Policing at the ASIS Fort Lauderdale Chapter’s annual Law Enforcement Appreciation banquet. Weston Police Chief Kevin Butler and City Commissioner Angel Gomez were on hand for the presentation. Deputy Pallotto was honored for her work coordinating with Weston’s 107 registered Homeowner’s Associations, hosting a summer police services academy for youth, establishing community watch groups, and developing a mobile van called “Crime Prevention on Your Corner.” This was not her first Officer of the Year title. Just last year, Deputy Pallotto was presented the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award from the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association. She was also nominated for the Community Policing Officer of the Year Award in 2011. In addition to her professional awards, Deputy Pallotto is also earning awards and accolades for her personal achievements. She won three gold medals and one silver medal in swimming events at the 2012 Florida Police and Fire Games. In fact, she set a new record in the 25 meter race. The Florida Police and Fire Games were established in 1985. They are open to Florida law enforcement officers, firefighters, and military personnel (active duty, reserves, National Guard and retirees from all military branches). More than 2,600 competitors competed in over 45 Olympic-style sporting events during this year’s games. The 2013 Florida Police and Fire Games will be held next June in Fort Lauderdale.
Weston Deputy Interviewed by Major League Baseball By Stacey Bomser
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camera crew from Major League Baseball Productions was in town recently
to interview Weston BSO Deputy Joe Solis for an upcoming special segment celebrating the 20th Anniversary of MLB’s RBI program. RBI stands for Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. The program is a Major League Baseball youth initiative designed to provide opportunities for children from underserved and urban communities to play baseball and softball. The program encourages excellence and achievement in education and teaches the value of teamwork and life lessons to youths ages five to 18. Deputy Solis took part in the RBI program while growing up in Miami. His team won the 1997 World Series Championship. He says he is thankful for having been given the opportunity to play baseball. “The RBI program was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. Being raised in a single parent household, it was difficult to always have the best and newest baseball equipment yet alone travel,” shares Deputy Joe Solis, City of Weston Motor Unit. “When RBI came around they provided us with everything, from professional uniforms personally purchased by Gary Sheffield to new baseball cleats and bats. I was fortunate enough to travel to Chicago which was my first time on an airplane and then to Colorado for the World Series all of which was financed through the program.” Deputy Solis acknowledges that RBI has had a profound effect on his life. “To this day I still have the jersey, magazine article, and World Series Ring which I will show to my daughter when she’s old enough to understand.” He is honored to have been selected as one of three RBI alumni to be featured in the special segment for Major League Baseball Productions. “I feel it’s great for kids to understand the positive impact of the program from someone that actually participated in the program.” The news special will highlight the life of three RBI alumni and show what playing in the RBI can lead to after baseball. Deputy Solis was drafted by the Chicago White Sox but made the decision to go into police work instead. The veteran law enforcement officer is a 10-year member of the Broward Sheriff’s Office; he currently serves as a member of the Weston motorcycle unit. One of the other RBI alumni interviewed is now the Executive Chef at the White House.
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Weston BSO Deputy Joe Solis was interviewed for a Major League Baseball Productions special segment.
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