Detective Paul Gilman Named Officer of the Year

Detective Paul Gilman has been named Officer of the Year for 2011 by the Petaluma Police Department. Gilman is the president of the Petaluma Peace Officers' Association and a 12-year veteran of the department. He is also a former Marine who last year started an organization called that raises money for children of fallen soldiers.

Gilman was nominated by members of the department and selected by administrative staff, according to Lt. Tim Lyons, a police spokesman.

Another long-time department employee who was recently honored for his work is Sgt. Ken Savano, head of traffic enforcement at the department, who regularly sets up DUI checkpoints and other traffic operations. Savano was hired in 1994 and received the Vilho Ahola Award, given to officers who go above and beyond the call of duty, Lyons said.

Vilho Ahola was a Petaluma police officer who was shot and paralyzed in 1969 while responding to a domestic violence call on I Street. Despite being paralyzed from the neck down, Ahola helped organize the Police Athletic League, now a countywide youth organization, and coached a rifle team for years. 

Congratulations Detective Gilman and Sergeant Savano!