Police Officer Matt Frick Announces Retirement After 13 Years

Press release from the Petaluma Police Department:

Oct. 30, 2020

The Petaluma Police Department is proud to announce the retirement of Police Officer Matt Frick effective Saturday, October 31, 2020.

Officer Frick joined our Department on November 19, 2007 as a Police Office Trainee and graduated from the Police Academy on December 7, 2007. During his thirteen year career in public safety he served this community with distinction in a variety of assignments including Patrol Officer, DARE Instructor, Mental Health Liaison, Gang Officer, Crisis Negotiator, Dual Purpose Motorcycle Officer, Traffic Motor Officer and Instructor, Traffic Collision Investigator, and Peer Support Counselor.

As a DARE Instructor for more than five years, he used his role to build meaningful relationships with our youth by mentoring them and positively influencing them with life skills that helped them address and solve problems and make safe decisions for them, their family, and friends. Matt shared that his assignment as a DARE Instructor and working with our youth was the most meaningful work in his career. He was not just a dedicated police officer, but a true teammate, who was always looking for ways to help those around him. He used his specialized crisis negotiations, mental health, and peer support training to serve as a true guardian to not just our community but also to our staff. Through his positive attitude, great sense of humor, and concern for others he easily connected and communicated well with everyone.

Matt did not only serve as a Traffic Officer, he worked hard to also became a Police Motorcycle Instructor. This training and certification is extremely difficult considering the dangerous nature of being a solo motor officer. He was responsible for investigating fatal and serious traffic collisions as well as the enforcement and education efforts for DUI, bicycle and pedestrian safety, distracted driving, and Safe Routes to School. He not only helped coordinate and facilitate the Every 15 Minutes Youth Anti-DUI Program, he was a guest speaker with the involved high school students where he shared the very personal loss of his brother to a DUI driver.

Matt has always demonstrated that his family came first, but he always found time to give more of himself to community engagement to strengthen relationships with those we serve. He participated in so many programs and community events outside his normal work hours including Special Olympics, Bicycle Rodeos, Shop with a Cop, National Night Out, Youth Halloween Safety Presentations, Junior Police Camp, Community Police Academy, and Community Town Hall Meetings.

In addition to his crime reduction and traffic safety efforts, Matt received numerous commendations throughout his career. Of particular note were commendations he received for being nominated for Employee of the Quarter, countless letters and cards from his DARE students and teachers, and an act of bravery when he safely disarmed and arrested a subject armed with a knife in the hospital threatening a security guard.

Matt also received the Medal of Valor for his life saving efforts in 2016. Matt received his BA degree in Sociology from Sonoma State University and held Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Certificates from the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Please join us in thanking Matt for his service to our community, the City of Petaluma, and our profession and wishing him all the best in his retirement.

This press release was produced by the Petaluma Police Department. The views expressed here are the author's own.