PROCLAMATION COMMENDING SHERRI VANNEST FOR HER COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY AND THE RESIDENTS SHE SERVES WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF SERVICE
WHEREAS, records and Communications Supervisor Sherri Vannest joined the Clearlake Police Department in 1991 and was hired as an employee shortly thereafter working as an Office Assistant, Confidential Secretary and Secretary to the Chief of Police. Sherri developed an extensive knowledge of the administrative functions of the police department, including payroll, file maintenance and records processing, and oversaw various computer systems within the agency.
WHEREAS, during the Great Recession in 2009, Sherri was laid off, but undeterred in her desire to serve, she returned to Clearlake Police Department as a dispatcher in 2010. Sherri went on to earn her Dispatcher Basic, Intermediate and Advanced certificates from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. In 2014, Sherri was promoted to the position of Records and Communications Supervisor.
WHEREAS, beyond her primary job responsibilities, Sherri has taken on numerous ancillary responsibilities and duties throughout her career. As a notary public and proctor for POST entry level testing for dispatchers and police officers, she has been directly involved in the hiring of the many people who have served the agency over the years. Sherri managed numerous grants, including the Bulletproof Vest Partnership grant that has helped make our officers safer. As the de-facto technology coordinator, Sherri kept the computers running and ensured personnel were knowledgeable and supported in their use.
WHEREAS, Sherri took a lead role in the department’s transition into a state-funded 9-1-1 public safety answering point, which brought the level of 9-1-1 service and accessibility to the standard enjoyed elsewhere in the state. Sherri has consistently been an advocate for the dispatchers she leads and is a proud member of the Clearlake Police Department.
WHEREAS, after 29 years of service of devoted public service to the City of Clearlake, Sherri has decided to enter a much-deserved retirement in which she can spend more time with her family and working on her farm. Sherri will be missed, but she has given a considerable amount of service to the public and we wish her well in retirement.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of Lake recognizes the 30+ years of service dedicated to the residents of Clearlake and Lake County in providing the necessary support that our first responders require to be safe and successful in their task of protecting our communities. Sherri’s dedication and perseverance in pushing the Clearlake Police Department forward has long lasting impacts that will be felt for years and decades to come.