The Cape Coral Police Department is proud to announce that Tammy Gair (Accounts Coordinator) and Collette Haenes (Administrative Assistant/Payroll) have been chosen as the dual winners of the Southwest Florida Police Chiefs Association “Outstanding Civilian Member of the Year” award.

In September 2017, the city of Cape Coral was struck by Hurricane Irma. City government was forced to shut down and ceased operating for several days during a critical time in the city’s payroll process. Employee paychecks were in serious jeopardy of not being distributed at a time when these employees, much like all the citizens of Cape Coral, were struggling to keep their families and homes safe from the storm.

With a severe time constraint and new procedures that had to be implemented manually for 319 employees, Gair and Haenes teamed together and worked extended hours, on their days off and under the ever-changing FEMA requirements, all while putting their own personal storm-related concerns aside until all employees’ payroll was adjusted properly. Their efforts were well above and beyond expectations, even more so because of the adverse circumstances they had to work with. 

“Collette and Tammy played a huge part in keeping the largest city between Tampa and Miami functioning properly during its worst natural disaster in twenty years. We are enormously proud of their work and self-sacrifice during the city and department’s time of need.”  ~ Lt. Dana Coston, Cape Coral Police Department Public Affairs Office

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