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Sahuarita Police Department honored for support of Guard and Reserve
Summary
The Sahuarita Police Department received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve ProPatriot award during the Sept. 8 Sahuarita Town Council meeting, recognizing department efforts to support Staff Sergeant Chris Perez during deployment and reintegration.
The Sahuarita Police Department received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) ProPatriot award at the Sept. 8 Sahuarita Town Council meeting, honoring the department’s support for Staff Sergeant Chris Perez, a reservist who deployed with the 860th Military Police in Kuwait. The award recognizes employers who go beyond legal requirements to support employees serving in the National Guard and Reserve.
The award’s presentation highlighted department outreach during Perez’s deployment and reintegration efforts on his return. Brig. Gen. Zoe Allinger of the Arizona National Guard praised the department’s actions, saying the police “actively enabled his service” and that “the last thing a service member needs to worry about is their job security.” The nomination submitted by Perez also noted extended military leave policies, continued benefits and a four-week reintegration program the department provided on his return.
Mayor Tom Murphy and Chief Nolan joined ESGR representatives—including Arizona state chair Rick Palmateer and ESGR emcee Darren Venters—at the dais for the presentation. Palmateer described the ProPatriot as the state’s highest ESGR employer award and said the recognition reflects a townwide attitude of support for reservists. Perez said he appreciated the department’s outreach and quoted Dwight D. Eisenhower: “The supreme quality of leadership is unquestionably integrity.”
Why it matters: USERRA—the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act—protects employment rights for reservists, and employers that exceed those requirements can reduce barriers to service and strengthen community ties. The presentation included a re-signing of the ESGR Statement of Support that pledges employer compliance with USERRA and other supportive actions.
Department and town officials said the award demonstrates how the town’s practices helped Perez’s family during deployment and eased his reintegration to duty. Chief Nolan said the recognition “isn’t me” but “the commanders, the lieutenants, the sergeants” who supported Perez.
The council took no formal action tied to the presentation; the event was ceremonial and informational.
