Each year at the annual Employee Appreciation Dinner, Ballwin employees are recognized for their remarkable service to this community. A handful of employees received an Above and Beyond Award and the 2017 Michael Flamion Employee of the Year award was also awarded. The winners and their nominations are below.

Above & Beyond

• WAYNE CASEY This recipient’s courage and quick thinking helped aid and reduce the injury sustained by a resident who was being attacked by a deer. While mosquito fogging, Wayne Casey came across an elderly woman lying in her driveway, injured and being attacked by a doe.  The doe lunged at him when he attempted to reach her by foot.  Wayne returned to his truck and drove toward the deer, making it retreat.  Wayne then helped the woman back into her house and called the police. 

• STEVE RUBY On June 16, two elderly residents were returning from a trip from Branson when they flattened their tire driving around the islands along Andrews Park Way. Steve Ruby stopped to change their tire so they could make it home. 

• DAN EASTHAMWhile having a conversation with an elderly, disabled member of The Pointe. Dan learned about the member’s dilemma at home.  The resident had a new TV that was too heavy for him to lift and he didn’t know how to connect the wires.  Dan went to the man’s home on his lunch break and hooked up the resident’s TV.  The man offered him money, but Dan refused to take it. 

• MIKE REYNOLDS This next individual was nominated for two different acts of compassion. Officer Mike Reynolds was assigned to investigate a stolen vehicle.  The vehicle was recovered and taken to an impound lot for processing.  Mike made contact with the victim and knowing this was her only means of transportation, responded to her residence to take her to the lot to retrieve her vehicle.   When it was discovered that the vehicle was out of gas, Mike obtained a gas container from the tow company and personally purchased gas for the victim so that she could make it to the gas station for further fueling. In addition, Mike Reynolds was once again the catalyst for the Festival for Falmion held at the Wolf.  This was the second year for this event and Mike Reynolds was heavily involved in the planning and organization of this event that benefited the Gary Sinise Foundation for the continued support of Officer Mike Flamion’s new smart home.

Employee of the Year: OFFICER MIKE HITCHCOCK

This next individual’s dedication to the City reaches far beyond his 31 years of service and has touched a variety of ages and socio-economic status. 

Serving in his third year as the Selvidge Middle School SRO, Officer Mike Hitchcock has worked to not just be a security figure for the students.  Instead, he has embedded himself in their development by building relationships with a majority of them. 

In order to help promote good citizenship, he identifies students that have made a positive impact in some way and rewards them with lunch at a local Ballwin establishment.  Alternating between boy and girl groups, the student(s) can invite other friends to the lunch outing. The school administration is supportive of this endeavor and has seen its positive impact.  In 2017 this program garnered support and some of the lunches have even been sponsored by local businesses or individuals. These outings have become a regular occurrence.

Mike has also coordinated some after-school basketball games to encourage positive student activities.  By enlisting the help of his fellow officers to play and interact with the students, this has helped to develop positive relationships between the students and local law enforcement. 

In addition, Mike spearheaded a hotel voucher program to be utilized by the police department to cover housing costs in situations when an individual needs to leave a residence for safety or are transient and have no roots here in the area. These calls are common in our venue and allow the officer to accompany the citizen to the motel and provide a voucher certificate to cover the stay.  This program provides the officers an easier avenue in situations where temporary shelter is needed.  Churches in the Ballwin area have provided financial support to the program and a local motel is a cooperating partner. 

Finally, mid-summer 2017, Mike reached out to the City of Winchester and asked for resident referrals that needed assistance in maintaining their property.  Mike’s church, as well as another church in the area, undertook this project.  To date, they have significantly impacted two families in the Winchester area.  Mike and other religious leaders were officially recognized by the City of Winchester for their efforts.

In light of his impact in and beyond the Ballwin area, the City of Ballwin recognizes Mike Hitchcock as the 2017 Michael Flamion Employee of the Year.