Last month, Altrusa International of Richardson announced its 2019 Outstanding Women of the Year award winners at its Outstanding Women of Today…Builders of Tomorrow annual luncheon and awards presentation. Officer Wendy Sheriff of the Garland Police Department received the award for the “Government/Municipal” category. Sheriff serves as GPD’s homeless and mental health liaison.
The group has honored 450 women in the past 15 years. According to the group’s nomination invitation, the Outstanding Women of Today award is a distinguished honor for women in leadership who exemplify excellence and innovation in their field.
Sheriff served in the U.S. Army as a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare specialist. After the military, she was a detention officer before joining the GPD. Sheriff’s past positions within GPD have included patrol, criminal investigation, neighborhood patrol and school resource officer.
She has been with GPD for 24 years and indicated that her current position as homeless and mental health liaison is challenging but rewarding. She added that being able to help others in such a way that they in turn help others through practice and testimony is beyond words.
Sheriff’s volunteer work includes serving on the board of the North Texas Crime Prevention Association and helping out at the Bridge and Stew Pot Homeless Shelter. She is also a former CASA volunteer. Sheriff also speaks to students throughout Garland ISD about improving their self-esteem, image and professional etiquette.
In a recommendation letter to Altrusa of Richardson, Lt. Pedro Barineau, Garland Police Department public information officer, referred to Sheriff as an “amazing person and outstanding member of the Garland Police Department.” He also said that in a
short time, Sheriff has made a positive impact in the community by helping many homeless individuals get back on their feet and utilize resources for housing, food and anything else necessary for their families.
Barineau also said that she has a “heart to help and it shows.”
Sheriff’s personal philosophy is “to always humbly “Pay it forward and fix each other’s crown.”
About the award: Each year, five community leaders (non-Altrusans) are selected to serve as judges. This year, the judges reviewed 25 applications and related letters of recommendation in seven categories (Corporate/High Tech, Education, Government/Municipal, Health Care, Nonprofit, Small Business, Tomorrow (under 35 in any category)).
The applications and recommendation letters are redacted so that judges do not know who the candidates are during the review and selection process. Judges are asked to recuse themselves from judging in a particular category if they happen to know or figure out a candidate’s identity. The judges select one candidate in each category to be awarded top honors. All nominees and seven top honorees are recognized during the annual Outstanding Women of Today… Builders of Tomorrow Awards Luncheon.
Officer Wendy Sheriff receives Altrusa award
