Last week the Lloyd Town Board moved Jacqueline McKenna from a part-time to full time position as a Police Officer at a salary of $56,135.

McKenna was born in the United Sates but at a young age her family moved to Brazil, where she lived for 18 years. She returned to Highland in 2020 and started her career with the Lloyd Police Department as a dispatcher, “where I was given the opportunities to grow within the department- needless to say that I took all of them.”

McKenna is also pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice, “to further enhance my knowledge and career. I strive to build my career in Lloyd, advancing through the ranks as opportunities arise. I am fortunate to be part of a department with such strong leadership and supportive peers.” McKenna also speaks Portuguese and Spanish.

Chief James Janso admires her dedication to the department.

“She had a regular schedule as a part-time dispatcher, but when someone called in sick, she would take their shift or work doubles. She’s a hard-worker, a quality you don’t really see a lot of anymore unfortunately, but she was dedicated and put her time in,” he said. “There were never any complaints from her and she worked wherever we needed her on short notice and she was there. So that’s someone I want working for us.”

Chief Janso is hoping McKenna will remain with the department for many years to come.

“That’s what I strive for, to have the right people in the right positions and keep them there and let them become the future of the department,” he said.

Presently, the Lloyd Police Department has 26 members: the Chief of Police, Lieutenant, 4 Sergeants, 1 Detective, 8 Full Time Police Officers (2 females and 4 males), 5 Part-time Officers and 6 Part Time Dispatchers (3 females and 3 males).

Also at last week’s meeting, Chief Janso accepted a Certificate of Community Appreciation on behalf of his department for their Project Care program. He said the program was started 15 years ago for Town of Lloyd seniors 62 and older, who live alone or are caregivers for their spouses. He said his dispatchers regularly call these seniors and members of the department often stop by in person to check on them or to bring them food and other needed items.

“It’s nice thing to reach out because seniors are the backbone of our country,” he said.

Janso said there are four seniors currently on the list and wished to dispel the notion that they are a burden upon his department; “that’s not it at all, we want them to sign up, so we can check on them to make sure they are OK. It takes a half hour out of the day to make them smile and that’s what it’s all about.”

Janso said the Certificate now hangs in the Dispatcher’s room, “because they are the ones who make the phone calls to check on our seniors.”