Later this week, Chief Tom Ryff will be honored with the East Valley NAACP President’s Award.

From the official news media release:

Tempe Police Chief Ryff to receive East Valley NAACP President’s Award

Tempe Police Chief Tom Ryff will receive the President’s Award at the East Valley branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Freedom Fund Gala on Friday October 23.

Ryff is a 30-year Tempe Police Veteran who graduated from Tempe High. He holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Chief Ryff recognizes the importance of promoting a workplace that values inclusiveness and innovation. His goal has been to transform Tempe Police Department into a high-performing, high-morale organization that excels in delivering high-quality police services and is prepared to meet the increased public safety challenges of the future. Under Ryff’s leadership, Tempe Police Department received an improved citizen satisfaction rating, from 76% to 83%, in the independently conducted 2008 Community Survey.

The East Valley NAACP President’s Award recipient is chosen for the highest dedication to civic engagement, fairness, opportunity, equal rights and strong, positive leadership. Ways in which Tom Ryff has exemplified these qualities to the benefit of Tempe include:

• Diversified the police department’s executive team; works closely with employee groups
• Made a permanent seat for employee associations at Command Staff and Crime Suppression Team meetings
• Created a culturally diverse Media and Community Relations unit to provide information, enhance safety, and promote awareness and trust across the community
• Strengthened local, state, and federal partnerships through collaborative action
• Implemented a hiring and recruiting strategy that targets all different segments of our population so that our police department is a mirror of our community
• Increased the Police Department’s participation in the City of Tempe’s Human Relations Commission, and works with faith-based and cultural organizations

Chief Ryff is an active member and/or supporter of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police, Latino Peace Officers Association, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Project Challenge, Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Los Vecinos. Further demonstrating his commitment to diversity, he is a recent recipient of the League of United Latin American Citizens Award and the Human Relations Commission Diversity Award.

The East Valley NAACP Annual Freedom Fund Gala will be Friday, October 23, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., at the Mesa Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, 1600 S. Country Club Drive. For more information, call 480-464-1808 or 480-821-8281 or newevnaacp@yahoo.com

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