Officer Mary Ferguson was awarded the Police Service Award at the Peninsula Council of Lions Clubs’ 50th Annual Police and Firefighter Awards banquet for her extensive work in the community with local schools, juveniles and their families. Ferguson began her community safety police officer assignment in April 2014. Since then she has made some notable achievements and utilized her education and experience to further develop the position. 

Ferguson developed the city’s juvenile diversion and truancy abatement program, life skills classes and assisted in developing local school emergency plans in each Menlo Park school. She has built relationships with youth, particularly at Belle Haven Elementary School. In addition, Ferguson holds parent conferences and provides families with resources for their children. She collaborates with school faculty, counselors, students and families in strategizing ways in helping youth get on and stay on a positive track in their school attendance and making sound decisions.

Believing that she has found the right direction toward ensuring success for youth of the Belle Haven community, she stated, “In light of all the negative media surrounding law enforcement, I am offering these children a different perspective and hope to answer their questions that many have been too afraid to ask. I have noticed a positive change among the students when I am on campus. In the beginning I was not welcome and the students did not like having me around, now I am greeted with smiles and hugs…most of the time.”