Rhonda Kirstein

For more information on the egg hunts, call Officer Rhonda Kirstein at (630) 909-5463 or Officer George Pappas at (630) 909-5466.

For more information on the egg hunts, call officer Rhonda Kirstein at (630) 909-5463 or officer George Pappas at (630) 909-5466.

Police officer Rhonda Kirstein was awarded the 2005 Juvenile Officer of the Year Award by the DuPage County Juvenile Officers Association, said Glendale Heights spokeswoman Gina Thorson.
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Kirstein is the only officer in the county to earn the annual award, officials said.

The DJOA, based in Hinsdale, is a nonprofit organization consisting of police officers, social workers, school liaison officers, school deans and community resource workers that serves the interests of youth in DuPage County.

Kirstein, who has been a police officer with the village since 1990, said she is honored to be recognized, but said she doesn't do anything more than any other school police officer does at any other department.She is the department's School Resource Officer for Queen Bee School District 16 in Glendale Heights.

"It is nice to be recognized for working with the students in and out of the classroom," Kirstein said.

She is state certified and teaches the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) to third- and fifth-graders, and the Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) programs to sixth grade students at District 16.She also teaches at Glen Oaks Therapeutic Day School, and St. Matthew School.Since becoming an instructor for the program, she has graduated more than 5,000 students through the programs, Thorson said.

"I'm just trying to make a difference in the lives of the students," she said."Yes, some will make mistakes, but they realize there are consequences with the choices they will make in life."

She is also responsible for holding two of the communities most popular children's events, the Safety Town Easter Egg Hunt and the Halloween Trick-or-Treat program.The success of these events is based on donations from the community, and Kirstein is instrumental in developing strong relationships between the community and the police departments to make these events possible, Thorson said.
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"Officer Kirstein has been instrumental in developing this strong support system throughout the community, which is evident by the success of these and other Safety Town events, including the Summer Safety Program," Thorson said.
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Kirstein spearheads the McGruff House Program, which places yellow stickers in the windows of houses that are designated as safe areas for children in need of help.She also works with children through the Juvenile Diversion Program, which has been successful in working with first-time juvenile offenders to reduce and eliminate repeat offenses.

"The best part of my job is being able to work with the kids in the school," Kirstein said.

Police officer Rhonda Kirstein was awarded the 2005 Juvenile Officer of the Year Award by the DuPage County Juvenile Officers Association, said Glendale Heights spokeswoman Gina Thorson.
...
Kirstein is the only officer in the county to earn the annual award, officials said.