Sheriff’s deputy receives award
For The Madera Tribune
Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue presented Deputy Melanie Hopper with the California Peace Officers’ Association’s “12 Under 12” award.
Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue had the privilege of presenting Deputy Melanie Hopper with the California Peace Officers’ Association’s “12 Under 12” award, which recognizes an individual from each of CPOA’s 12 regions who have 12 or fewer years of service and who exemplify the future of the law enforcement profession.
Deputy Hopper started her law enforcement career working for the Madera County Sheriff’s Office in February of 2017. After approximately one year on patrol, she was selected to fill the inaugural School Resource Deputy position for the Yosemite Unified School District. Hopper quickly became a mentor to students and an invaluable support to staff. In her capacity as an SRD, she held an active role in various community groups, including the Madera County Tobacco Coalition and the Madera County Suicide Collaborative.
As a member of the Madera County Suicide Collaborative, she has worked with community members towards providing resources to those in need of mental health help, specifically promoting a multiagency approach to solving the mental health crisis in Madera County, particularly amongst the youth.
In 2020, Hopper was tasked with being an integral part of the Rapid Contact Tracing Team in Madera County. She was recognized as someone that could multitask in the areas of managing field contact teams as well as working with the Public Health Strike Team, all while keeping and inputting critical data related to isolation and quarantine orders being served by those groups.
Over time as Hopper’s responsibilities in this role increased, she consistently sought ways to improve the process.
“In every role she has been selected for, Deputy Hopper has demonstrated a leadership mentality, exceptional organizational skills, and a genuine passion to care for the community that she serves,” Pogue said. “It is my honor and privilege to recognize Deputy Hopper’s significant contributions and effort, and present her with the 12 Under 12 award.”
“Amidst a global pandemic, I am glad to lend a helping hand to humanity during these trying times,” Hopper said. “I look forward to many more years of serving and helping the people of Madera County.”
Hopper is now assigned to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services where she plays an critical role in cost recovery and incident tracking.
