Spring Lunch with the Chief

The Marco Island Police Foundation hosted its Spring Luncheon with the Chief on April 2 at the Hideaway Beach Club to a sell-out crowd. The Officer of the Year was announced, and attendees heard from special guest speaker, retired Police Chief Kristen Ziman, who talked about managing a nightmare scenario of a mass shooting in her jurisdiction on February 15, 2019. Ziman rose through the ranks from cadet with the Aurora, Illinois Police Department and eventually was promoted into the top job spending 30 years with the same department. She has dedicated the last six years to educating the public about everyone’s responsibility to speak up when red flags indicate possible dangers ahead.

Ziman praised the five officers who initially responded to the scene within four minutes of the first calls and credited them with possibly saving more lives on that day. Five of those officers were wounded, three very seriously. Five workers within the Henry Pratt Company were killed that day during the mass shooting event before the offender was killed.

The attendees at the luncheon hung on every word of her presentation, and many stayed after lunch to chat with her.

Ironically, another young professional officer was honored at that same luncheon when Chief Frazzano announced that the Officer of the Year Award for 2024 would go to Melanie Lopez. Like the guest speaker at the luncheon, Lopez had always aspired to enter the field of law enforcement, and since joining the Marco Island Department, she had demonstrated great ambition and a drive to excel. She was accompanied by her family members and fellow officers who all spoke glowingly of her professionalism and willingness to learn.

The Marco Police Foundation will be hosting its Annual Rib Cookoff on April 12 at the Brewery at the Town Center Shopping Plaza. The event starts at noon and goes until 5:00 PM.