Naperville Police Department Helps Support Suicide Prevention Efforts

The Naperville Police Department’s Communications Section recently presented a $565 check to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention after completing a successful second round of “Charity Dress Down Days.”

Aimed at giving back to the community and enhancing a team atmosphere in the Communications Section, “Charity Dress Down Days” allow staff members to wear approved “dress down” apparel once a month in exchange for a $5 donation to a charity voted on by all those participating.

Six months of collections garnered $565 for this period’s chosen charity, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, an organization that creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy and provides support for those affected by suicide.

The section’s “Charity Dress Down Days” was the idea of Telecommunicator Michael Stys, who first heard of the fundraiser at a leadership training and thought it was a good way for he and his colleagues to positively interact with the public. The initiative will continue, with proceeds going to a different charity chosen by the group every six months.

The Communications Section is comprised of the Naperville’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which provides emergency and non-emergency radio and telephone communications for all public safety departments, and City Dispatch, which serves the Departments of Public Works and Public Utilities.

“This is an extraordinary group of employees,” said Naperville Police Chief Robert Marshall. “They give so much to the community every day just through the nature of their jobs, and to see them continually strive to do more for the others is incredible.”

For more information on the American Foundation for Suicide, visit www.afsp.org.

Photo: From left to right, Naperville Police Department Telecommunicator Samantha Briggs; Emergency Communication Supervisor Jillianne Price; Telecommunicator Jason Murr; Telecommunicator Gail Towner; Telecommunicator Michael Stys; Alyssa Relyea and Scott Langenecker, Illinois Chapter Board Members, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; former Telecommunicator Ashley Wurz; and Telecommunicator Theresa Brock.

Submitted by the Naperville Police Department