Police volunteer, detective honored with Rotary awards

By Chad Ray, The Virginian-Pilot - 3/10/2011

Betty Gerber has volunteered more than 12,600 hours with the Virginia Beach Police Department over the past 21 years, saving the city an estimated $200,000 in salaries.

She recently received the Virginia Beach Public Safety Volunteer of the Year award from the Rotary Club of Cape Henry. Mayor Will Sessoms gave her a proclamation naming March 2 as Betty Gerber Day.

Sgt. James R. Johnson, a 29-year veteran of the Police Department, was named Public Safety Employee of the Year.

The detective “still expresses the same passion and devotion to police work as a brand new officer fresh out of the academy,” said Lt. Todd Jones, who nominated Johnson for the award.

Police Chief Jim Cervera was happy with the results.

“We made a clean sweep with our award winners,” said Cervera, speaking of the two recipients associated with the Police Department.

In other community service, the Rotary Club is having a bowling fundraiser at Pin-boys in Virginia Beach on March 18.

For more information, call John Skirven at 802-1159 or e-mail him at sevamp1@verizon.net.

Chad Ray, aircrew90@yahoo.com

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