Women in Leadership 2023 Scholarship Program Grows! 

In 2022, Retired Chief Linda Pillo established the first Women in Leadership Scholarship for emerging female leaders within the police department. In 2023, Zetron Corporation has helped expand the scholarship to include more female officers.

In early August, Linda Pillo presented this year’s scholarships at the Awards Banquet that immediately followed our golf tournament. The two recipients were Detective Stephanie Fritsch and Officer Rachel Serna, who were both nominated for the award by their supervisors. 

Officer Serna, who is part of the crisis response team, was nominated for strong work ethic, leadership skills, her community service, participation in weekly self defense classes for women, and dedication to solving difficult crimes. 

Says Major Dave Sanabria, “Officer Serna embodies the qualities of an exceptional leader, going above and beyond her duty to serve and uplift the community. Her dedication, integrity, and genuine concern for the well-being of others are truly commendable. She has left an indelible mark on the department and the lives of the community members she interacts with.” 

Detective Fritsch regularly investigates some of the most serious cases in our society. Those cases include but are not limited to Sexual Assaults, Rapes, Child Abuse, Child Pornography, and many other crimes. Detective Fritch is passionate about her work and is dedicated to protecting children and adults that are the most vulnerable in our society. She recently gained a conviction and a 19-year prison sentence for a kidnapping and sexual assault predator who was posing as a Lyft driver and serially targeting vulnerable women. 

Major Mark Tarantino says about Detective Fritsch, “Although Detective Fritsch carries a substantial detective case load, she has also found time in her busy schedule to educate children and parents about the dangers of online social media usage. Detective Fritsch’s efforts to combat this growing problem have resulted in several educational presentations to various schools. Her efforts and presentations have been praised by parents and school administrators alike.”

The Bellevue Police Foundation congratulates both women, who will receive $1,000 each towards leadership training. We thank them for their service to our community!