Palatka Police Officer Christian Larrivee-Grant stands between Police Chief Jason Shaw and Lt. Ashton Cassidy after she was named Palatka City of Month for July at the July 27 City Commission meeting. Standing behind the officers are Palatka City Commissioner Justin Campbell, Commissioner Will Jones, Mayor Robbi Corra, Commissioner Rufus Borom and Commissioner Tammie McCaskill.
Palatka Police Officer Christian Larrivee-Grant isn't the most senior member of the City's police force. She only started in March, but despite her short time with the department, Officer Larrivee-Grant has a unique advantage - she is a native of Palatka, born and raised here.
Officer Larrivee-Grant decided to move back to her hometown to be closer to her family after serving as an emergency dispatcher and deputy for the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office for over a decade, starting in 2009. She wasted no time making a positive impact in her hometown. On July 27, during the City Commission meeting, Officer Larrivee-Grant was named the City of Palatka's Employee of the Month for July.
Officer Larrivee-Grant was nominated for the award by her supervisor Lt. Ashton Cassidy, for an incident where she was called to help a man seeking help for substance abuse. Lt. Cassidy wrote in the nomination that was read before the Commission by Palatka Police Chief Jason Shaw that Officer Larrivee-Grant spent a long time talking to the person, brought him water and snacks out of her own pocket and found him a rehabilitation facility where she drove him after her shift was over. Chief Shaw said Officer Larrivee-Grant's actions went above and beyond and gave the man another chance at life.
"I'm not here to just take people to jail and hand out traffic tickets. If you want to talk to me, I'll talk to you, however long it takes." she said, "We all work to understand the issues and to find help for people. I believe in positive policing and being a positive impact on the community, not ruining your lives or making things more difficult than they already are. We are here to help you."
"I am from here. I know the people from here. I care about this community, as does everyone else in the department," she continued, "I love the agency. I couldn't ask for a better department or City to work with."
Thank you, Officer Larrivee-Grant, for all you do for the City of Palatka.