Scholarships
Retired Bellevue police chief Linda Pillo has generously funded a $1,000 annual leadership training scholarship for women officers. “There are still too few women leaders in law enforcement. My hope is this annual scholarship will encourage women officers to attend leadership courses that will help them successfully compete for leadership positions at BPD.”
The Bellevue Police Foundation was formed in 2007 while she was Chief and Chief Pillo served as a board member until her retirement in 2014. The Foundation Board is pleased to partner with Chief Pillo to provide this scholarship opportunity.
In 2023, Zetron Corporation generously offered to fund additional scholarships for emerging women leaders.
2023 Scholarship Recipients:
Detective Stephanie Fritch and Officer Rachel Serna
Detective Fritch is currently and has been for the last several years assigned to our Investigations section as a Special Assault Unit Detective. As part of her assignment, Detective Fritch regularly investigates some of the most serious cases in our society. Those cases include but is 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.
A recent example of Detective Fritch's outstanding work was her recent trial in which she gained a conviction and a 19-year prison sentence for a kidnapping and sexual assault suspect and predator who was serially targeting vulnerable women as a Lyft driver. According to the prosecutor's office who worked closely with Detective Fritsch to gain a conviction in this case, they called Detective Fritsch among the best detectives they have ever encountered during their careers.
Besides this case, Detective Fritsch continually works on her cases to reach logical conclusions while striving for the pursuit of justice for our victims. I have told Detective Fritsch on a couple of occasions that if a crime happened against my child or family members, I would want someone like Detective Fritsch to investigate the case.
Detective Fritsch is also one of the main regional detectives that investigates ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) cases. She has served many search warrants and has made many arrests against several online child predators.
Although Detective Fritsch carries at times 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.
Officer Rachel Serna
Officer Serna is an exemplary leader within our department, consistently going above and beyond the call of duty. Her dedication to both the department and the community is truly commendable. She has exhibited exceptional skills in law enforcement and shown an unwavering commitment to community engagement and empowerment.
One of Officer Serna's notable contributions is her active participation in community outreach. She demonstrates exceptional professionalism, sound judgment, and a genuine concern for the welfare of the community members she serves. Officer Serna consistently devoted her personal time and energy to community events last year, such as Shop with a Cop and Halloween on the Hill. Her presence at these events impacted the community, particularly the children who viewed her as a role model.
In addition to that community outreach, Officer Serna actively participates in self-defense classes sponsored by the Bellevue Police Department. Her participation in these workshops has empowered countless women in our community, providing them with the essential knowledge and skills to protect themselves. Officer Serna and the other female officers who participated in these workshops enhanced community safety and inspired a sense of confidence and empowerment among the participants.
Moreover, Officer Serna also serves as a vital crisis response team member, swiftly and effectively handling challenging situations with compassion and competence. Her calm demeanor and ability to connect with distressed individuals have been instrumental in diffusing tense situations and providing much-needed support to those in crisis.
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 with whom she interacts.